Lehighton broke through last season, winning a district title in its third straight appearance in the final.

Can the Indians repeat as champs?

After falling to Lehighton in the title game, Northwestern will look to continue the form that produced a deep playoff run a year ago.

Northern Lehigh and Palmerton also have their eye on a deep postseason push, while Pleasant Valley will look to bounce back with a new head coach.

LEHIGHTON

DEFEND THE THRONE

... After coming up short the previous two seasons, the Indians defeated Northwestern for the District 11 Class 1A title last year. It marked Lehighton’s first district title since 2010. “I think that’s one of our strengths that they’ve played some high-level games. But they have a lot of weight on their shoulders. They want to get right back to where they were last year,” said Indians’ head coach Vanessa Rimbey. Lehighton earned a win over Susquenita in the first round of the state playoffs before falling to Wyoming Seminary.

COMING BACK

... Karissa Hough returns for the Tribe after earning Times News/LVHN Field Hockey Player of the Year honors a season ago. Hough, will continue her field hockey career at Division 1 Hofstra University, tallied eight goals and four assists this past season.

HELPING HANDS

... While Hough will likely garner much of the attention, Rimbey also will be able to rely on seniors Aleah Nothstein, Kaia Slaw and Alison Miller, who were all vital parts of the team’s success a season ago.

KEEP AN EYE ON

... The Tribe will also be counting on big seasons from senior Kylie Kresge, juniors Jade Schleicher and Alicia Shaffer and sophomores Madison Brown and Adriana Hinkle to step in and fill key roles this year. “I have a bunch of girls that are playing an inside (position) in the middle of the field, and then they’re playing as wings, so they’re playing inners and then they’re playing mids, and those are kind of two completely different areas on the field. At first, and we’ve been working on this throughout the summer, they were kind of just getting into the swing of what their responsibilities are, and I think down the road when they become juniors and seniors, I think they will have a better understanding of the game. I do think down the road this will be very beneficial for them, but it’s a lot to throw at them,” said Rimbey.

SHOES TO FILL

... Lehighton will need to fill the holes left by eight graduating seniors. The departures of Mackenzie Hoats, Olivia Frendt, Gabriela Szozda and others will be tough to offset, but Rimbey has confidence that her squad will be able to adapt to their new roles. “We lost a great bunch of our defense, so we’ve moved a lot of people that used to play as inners or forwards, we’re moving a lot of them to mids this year. So they’re learning a lot of different types of hockey that they weren’t really responsible for last year, like marking in the circle on defense. We’re having a tough time transitioning to that, just even drop-marking, things like that. Before they had to just get back on defense, now they’re kind of shifting from a zone to a man with a combination that is a bit of a mix. That’s where we are with that. We’re just working on different positions,” said Rimbey.

IN THE CAGE

... The Indians ended last season down to their third-string goalie, with Ashley Wojton filling in for starter Angelina Romito and backup Shelby Heater, who were injured during the final weeks of the season. Wojton, who had been a midfielder, allowed just one goal in two district playoff games, and blanked Northwestern in the final. All three are back for 2019, and Rimbey expects Wojton and Romito to split the starting duties. “Ashley and Angelina are splitting time in the goal cage. I’m not sure how we’re going to play that out, but I’m not going to do half-and-half. If one’s having a phenomenal game, I’m going to let her play,” said Rimbey.

SETTLING IN

... As players settle into their roles, so too has Rimbey as she enters her second year at the helm. “They understand what’s expected from them, they know what our style of play is, we don’t have to focus so much on that, just where their roles are in that type of situation, or who’s on the field. I think once we kind of settle in on where we’re going to play moreso in the season that they will be able to connect with each other, and we’ll do fine I think,” said Rimbey.

NORTHERN LEHIGH

TAKING OVER

... Kim Seiler will lead the Bulldogs this season after Jess Frew retired following 16 years in charge of the program. Frew departed after compiling a 171-137-13 record, which includes a 2013 Colonial League title.

BUILDING BLOCKS

... Despite graduating four seniors, including Second Team Colonial League All Star Madison Posivak, Seiler will try to build on the team’s 11-8 (10-6 Colonial League) record from a season ago, a campaign that ended with an overtime loss to Bethlehem Catholic in the quarterfinal round of the district tournament. “We have a few key players to watch this season. We are a young team but our strength comes in our midfield with senior Maddison Cunifer. She received league honors (Honorable Mention) last year as a defender. She has worked hard in the offseason, and we moved her to the midfield where she does well moving the ball up the field. She is supported by three key players, junior Hailey Evans (Second Team Colonial League All Star) in the backfield and junior Hailie Krasenics and sophomore Olivia Horninger flanking her on either side. Forwards Brooke Nonnemacher and Gabby Myster (both sophomores) are looking to set some goals records,” said Seiler.

STRONG FOUNDATION

... In addition to a strong core of players, Seiler also pointed to the team’s desire to improve when discussing the Bulldogs’ best qualities. “The strength of our team has been working as a unit. We have worked hard on and off the field to increase our communication. Our goalie, sophomore Kendall Heiney starts it off in the back field and we continue that tenacity all the way to the forward line,” she said.

DAY BY DAY

... Seiler sees a lot to like in this year’s team, but she knows in order to have success they can’t get caught looking ahead. “We are working hard this season to develop a young team. The coaches have stressed making good decisions and being positive no matter the outcome. The girls have put in a lot of work in the offseason including tournaments and conditioning training. We look forward to watching the girls develop and work together to get the win. The team’s goals include playing in league and district playoffs and improving our skills to be a competitive force in the league,” said Seiler.

NORTHWESTERN

UNDERDOGS?

... A year ago, Northwestern Lehigh field hockey wasn’t considered a huge threat in either the Colonial League or districts. They finished the season 11-10-1 and saved their best for last when they went on a run to reach the district finals where they lost to Lehighton 2-0.

This year’s edition of the Lady Tigers has a large group of juniors and they’re poised to not only continue the success that the team had last season, but they’re looking to take it beyond just reaching the district championship game.

A CLASS OF TWO

... Ally Myers (Honorable Mention Colonial League All Star) and McKenzie Mosebach comprise the small senior class for the upcoming season. The good news is that with eight returning juniors, there’s some experience for the team to rely on in the starting lineup. Many of those juniors will fill holes created by graduation and will also be looked to as a support system for the senior leadership.

“It’s unbelievable how fast the time has gone,” said Myers. “It’s hard to believe this is my last season and we obviously want to make it a good one and surpass even what we were able to do last season.”

HELP WANTED

... Northwestern lost two goalies (Taylor Page and Alena Smargiassi) who split time in goal before winding up at Division 1 schools to continue their academic and athletic careers. Two starting forwards also graduated, leaving some key spots to be filled for the upcoming season. Coach Lissa Opolsky will have to rely on some inexperienced players filling those spots to start the season. The youth at the forward position will hopefully be countered by experience at other spots throughout the lineup.

“We have a solid freshman class and we’re lucky to have a really large junior class, so we’re relying on the upper classmen to show the younger kids the way and from there, we could have some starters in the future and solid subs for us,” said Opolsky. “The door is really open and although we’re not set on everything just yet, I’m encouraged by the early practices.” The Tigers must also replace Sydney Derr (Second Team Colonial League All Star) and Rachel Koerner (Honorable Mention Colonial League All Star).

TURF’S UP

... The team will be playing their home games on the new Tiger Stadium turf this season. The play figures to be faster, with more truer passes and will benefit players with solid fundamental skills, who can handle the ball well. As a senior, Myers sees another benefit to finally having a true home field.

“We’re really looking forward to that,” said Myers of playing on turf. “Especially since senior night can actually be here this year instead of in Allentown. A lot of us play on turf offseason, so we’re all looking forward to that. We’re anxious to get on the turf and play.”

The team will play their first home game on turf next Wednesday against Palisades.

TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED.

.. Opolsky started camp by pointing out the target that is on the collective backs of Northwestern this season. She also was proactive and guarded against the team assuming things will all go like they did last season without any extra work.

“We talked on the very first day that there was a ghost in the room because we made it to playoffs and want that to happen again, but it’s something that just doesn’t happen and you can’t bank on that. I’m pretty sure that some of the teams that we beat last year weren’t banking on us to beat them, so now, we’re in the opposite position where we expect to be somewhere,” said Opolsky. “We talked about what are we going to do to make sure that happens. We’re taking it step-by-step and they’ve been serious, but still having fun, so it’s been good to see.”

PALMERTON

BACK FOR MORE

... Second-year head coach Pat Frank is eager to build on last year, which ended with an overtime loss to Wilson in the District 11 playoffs. “We have a solid starting lineup with well conditioned athletes all around. A core group of young ladies in the midfield positions that can control a game start to finish and many players rostered playing club field hockey in the offseason,” said Frank.

GOING DEEP

...The Bombers return a number of players with varsity experience and feature several newcomers that will try to help the team improve on its 9-8-1 record from a year ago. Seniors Abby Everett (midfield), Emily Recker (forward), juniors Emily Baumgardt (forward), Megan Serfass (midfield), Jillian Frank (defender), Molly Mihalko (forward), Delaney Frank (defense) and Abby Reis (defense) and sophomores Erin Kistler (midfield) Emma Christman (forward), Analise Recker (forward) and Shannon Dougherty (goalie), along with freshmen Taylor Pengelly (goalie), Kelsey Balliet (forward) and Clair Frank (forward) all are expected to be vital parts of the team’s success this season. “(Our) outlook is to have a strong push through postseason and win our games through conditioned athletes and good stick skills. The opposition is going to have a long night trying to control the game from our midfield lineup,” said Frank.

MOVING ON

... While Palmerton features no shortage of playmakers across its lineup, the Bombers will have to replace the likes of Sayler Burke (First Team Colonial League All Star, forward), Payton Lesher and Allyssa Frantz who all departed the program.

LOOKING AHEAD

... Frank expects the Bombers to have the right mindset to be a force in the always-competitive Colonial League and beyond in 2019. “We will not allow ourselves to back down in any game; our team unity will pick us up every time. Stick skills are good but conditioning wins the game,” he said.

PLEASANT VALLEY

IN CHARGE

... Colleen Dinan takes over as Pleasant Valley’s head coach this season. Dinan has been with the program for 10 years off and on. Her assistant will be Brittany Angelica.

KEY LOSSES

... The Bears will have to replace Meara Hanyon (Second Team Eastern Pennsylvania Conference All Star), Trish Dominic, Morgan Frantz, Julia Butchkoski and Shannon Carr from a squad that went 5-13 a year ago.

COMING BACK

... In order to compete in the EPC, Dinan will look to veterans Emma Strohl (senior/goalie), Ashley Rundle (senior/defense), Briella Kish (junior/midfield) and Sophia DiFusco (senior/forward) to lead the way. PV will also be counting on Jordan Kautzsch (sophomore/forward), Matti Hyland (freshman/forward), Nikol Smale (sophomore/forward), Arianna Mulligan (sophomore/midfield), Jill Donatelli (junior/forward), Lexi Thomas (senior/midfield and defense), Lexi Neri (junior/midfield and defense) and Lexi Engle ( senior/defense) to play key roles this year. “Our team unity, speed and work ethics are definitely a team strength. But we lack experience,” said Dinan.

LOOKING AHEAD

... While Dinan knows a turnaround won’t happen overnight, she has been encouraged by what she’s seen from her squad. “ We are a young team with players who are beginning to gel. When it all comes together, we can be a competitive team. This season will be what we make of it. The pieces are there, we just have to put the puzzle together,” she said.

Chuck Hixson also contributed to this article