SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The Northwestern Lehigh girls soccer team is trying something new and different this season.

This year’s squad is venturing into the state semifinals for the first time in the program’s history after beating Trinity 1-0 in the Class 2A quarterfinals of the PIAA tournament at Blue Mountain High School Saturday.

The Tigers are now just two wins away from capturing a state championship. In just her 24th varsity game, freshman Sophia Schaffer picked up the game-winning goal with 14:10 left in the first half, and the Northwestern defense just shut down the Shamrocks the rest of the way.

Persistence was the key in getting the goal, as Katie Brensinger sent a pass to Schaffer, who was able to work ahead of a defender to put a shot on goal. Schaffer admitted that she may have panicked a little on the play, but had the presence of mind to stay on the play and get the goal.

Schaffer’s original shot went directly toward goalie Julianna Prokop, but something the coaches had told the team stayed in their minds, and the attackers stayed on the play.

“I got a little too excited, and if I had it to do it over again, I would have taken a deep breath and thought about the shot, but I just quickly put it on goal,” said Schaffer. “The coaches told us that she [Prokop] had trouble holding on to balls that were hit at her, so we knew to keep going on the play and not to back off.”

The ball did rebound off Prokop, and Cammy Fitch appeared to get a foot on it to send it to Brensinger, who headed the ball to Schaffer, who had composed herself and put it past Prokop to give Northwestern (23-1-0) the lead.

The Shamrocks (18-4-0) were unable to find an answer to a defense that has been difficult for teams to beat this season. Defenders Syenna Flores and Abby Pomajevich both played a great game, with goalie Olivia Reinhart making stops on shots when attackers were able to get anything on goal.

The defensive success came down to preparation.

“We prepared a lot to play this kind of team, and I think we did well,” said Pomajevich, who would like nothing more than to play for a state championship in her senior season. “It feels really good because we haven’t even gotten this far in my time with the team, so it’s great to get here in my senior year, but we have to keep going on from here.”

The Tigers controlled much of the play through the first part of the second half, but Trinity was able to challenge the Tigers defense, keeping the ball primarily in the Northwestern third of the field.

Still, the Tigers’ defense was up to the task, and interrupted some of the attacks by returning to mount their own challenges on Prokop and the Shamrocks’ defense.

“Coach (Jordan) Smith talked to our defense about being more composed in the second half, and I think that worked out great,” said Schaffer. “Our defense was amazing in the second half, and they were able to get a lot of the balls out and limited their opportunities.”

FAMILIAR FOE

... Normally at this point in the postseason, teams are playing schools they are unfamiliar with, but thanks to a penchant for wanting to play the best competition around, Northwestern played a regular season game against defending state champion Central Columbia (22-1-0), the team the Tigers will see in the state semifinals.

After beating the Fighting Blue Jays 3-1 during the regular season, the two teams meet again in the semis after Central downed Wyomissing 3-0 in its quarterfinal matchup. The game will be played on Tuesday at Harman-Geist Memorial Field in Hazleton at 5 p.m. and the winner will meet either Shady Side Academy or Avonworth in the title game. The state championship is scheduled for Friday at Eagle View High School in Mechanicsburg. THE NEW FRONTIER

… “It’s a nervous excitement,” explained Northwestern coach Jordan Smith about heading to the semifinals. “We’ve gotten to the quarterfinals the last few years and just haven’t been able to get over that hump, so it’s an excited feeling, but for them, you can’t be content just getting there. I’m sure once my heart rate comes down a little, I’ll feel a bit of relief about making it past the quarterfinals, but now, I’m still a bit anxious.”