EMMAUS - In Tuesday night’s semifinal game against Jim Thorpe, Sammy Bardonner fed Brook Balliet for an early goal and the Tigers used the momentum for a big win.

If it worked in the semifinals, why not in the finals?

Balliet and Bardonner repeated their early-goal pattern on Thursday - and Balliet added a second goal later in the game - as Northwestern captured the District 11 Class 2A championship with a 3-2 win over defending state champion Allentown Central Catholic.

“Sammy and I work really well together. She knows the runs I am going to make, and we work on those in practice. She does a really good job of getting me those balls in perfect position,” said Balliet of the connection between the two.

Before the Vikettes could shake off the disappointment of the early goal, Sarah Renner delivered a free kick to the far side of the net, where Katie Brensinger was looking to make something happen. Fortunately for the Tigers, something good did happen even though Brensinger was unable to see exactly what it was.

“I think one of my teammates headed the ball or kicked it and I headed it, hoping one of my teammates could (deflect it in), but it ended up going upper 90 (where the post and crossbar meet) and the goalie wasn’t expecting it,” said Bardonner. “I turned and all my teammates jumped on me, so it was kind of a moment of shock.”

Before the first half was even halfway complete, Central Catholic was reeling while Northwestern was hitting on all cylinders. As Central attempted to get back into the game, goalie Naomi Glassberg further frustrated them with save after save. On a play where Glassberg had to leave the net to play the ball, the Vikettes thought they had an opportunity, but Cammy Fitch gave herself the job of interim goalie and cleared the ball out of the box to keep Central Catholic scoreless.

Eventually, the Vikettes were able to get a first-half goal against Glassberg when Sammy Roth came down the right side and fed a perfect cross to the front of the net where Meredith Eisenman was able to head it in for her 21st goal of the season.

Unshaken by the narrowed advantage, Northwestern picked up a third goal just four minutes later when Paige Bissell fed Balliet to make it 3-1.

The second half began with more frustration for the defending state champions. Eisenman had her eyes set on her 22nd goal, but Glassberg made a huge sliding stop to prevent the sophomore from delivering the shot.

“I love having Naomi back in the goal, and I have so much trust in her,” said Balliet. “She is just an amazing goalkeeper, and always keeps us in the game.”

Central’s Dee McMullen made it interesting when she found an opening with 34:21 left in regulation to make it a 3-2 game.

The Vikettes had came close to tying a short time later when McMullen put a shot on goal, but Glassman dove to her right to make a spectacular save. With just over a minute remaining, Central Catholic again looked to score off a corner kick, but Fitch made another big defensive play and cleared the ball back to near midfield.

The win ends the season for the Vikettes, but sends the Tigers to states, which begin next week.

“It definitely feels good to beat the defending state champion, especially since only one of us gets to go to states,” said Brensinger. “We scored right off the bat, and we do well when we are able to do that, so we just felt like we had this one.”

ROAD TO GOLD ... Northwestern seniors now have four district gold medals in their collection of bling. The Tigers were 2A champions in 2019, won 3A titles in ‘20 and ‘21, and returned to 2A this season to add number four.

UP NEXT ... Northwestern hosts the winner of the Lake Lehman-Holy Redeemer District 2 championship game. That game will be at Northwestern on Tuesday.