In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, it was “déjà vu all over again” for Northwestern Lehigh.

Matched up with Allentown Central Catholic in the district semifinals — just as they were last season — the Tigers repeated the outcome of last year’s game with a 1-0 win and their sixth straight district 11 championship.

And just like a year ago, Brook Balliet played a role in the lone goal, this time getting the assist with Sophia Schaffer getting the game-winning tally.

“Sophie made such a great run. She cut in front of the defender, and she saw that an open gap was there,” said Balliet. “We have always worked well together, and I was able to get the ball through the middle, and she has always been able to finish super well and that was a great moment for her.”

Schaffer never had to break stride to finish the play, and put the ball just under the crossbar for the lead with just over 22 minutes left to play. The goal snapped a scoreless tie as both teams fought to get early momentum.

The game turned physical with both teams being given a yellow card in the first half of play, but neither squad was able to take advantage of having an extra player on the field after the cards.

“My message before the game and at the half was to keep our composure and play our style of play,” said Northwestern head coach Jordan Smith. “We knew they were a physical team, and that’s one of the things that makes them a really good team, and I thought we did a good job handling it.

“We had some dangerous set pieces, but just weren’t able to capitalize, but it was a gritty effort by the girls.”

Defensively, Northwestern has allowed just eight goals all season, and has now produced five straight shutouts and outscored its opponents 27-0 during the streak.

“Our defense was unbelievable tonight. Everyone played amazingly,” said sophomore Alexis Kercher. “They were very physical, but we dealt with it very well, everyone kept their cool and everyone just defended as a team.

“We all had to work together, and I just thought it was an awesome team effort.”

Northwestern held a 4-3 edge in shots at halftime, but Central Catholic was able to find more opportunities in the second half and ended up putting seven shots on goal compared to two for the Tigers. Goalie Olivia Reinhart was at the top of her game and prevented the Vikettes from getting the tying goal.

Central Catholic was especially tough late in the game and had opportunities — including a final fray in front of the goal with :05 left in regulation, but Northwestern was able to clear the ball.

“It’s a matter of knowing your role and doing your job, and that’s exactly what the girls did,” said Smith. “It got a little dicey there at the end, but that’s what happens against a good team, and they gave us everything we could handle. And I am proud of the girls for dealing with it.”

One of the biggest saves of the night came from Schaffer herself, who looked to head a ball away and wound up with the ball hitting her squarely in the face. The sophomore was able to shake it off and stay in the game.

“We were just trying to keep the ball from going in the net in those last few minutes and it was chaos,” said Schaffer. “We were just trying to get the ball back and protect the shutout and win the game, so I was willing to do whatever it took to try to save a goal from happening.”

HOME, SWEET HOME … The win means that the seniors will get to play one final time at Tiger Stadium, and that will come in the opening round of the PIAA tournament. Northwestern will host Hughesville, the runner-up from District 4 in first round play Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. Hughesville lost to Central Columbia, the team that defeated Northwestern in last year’s semifinal game at Hazleton High School. Northwestern’s run to the semifinals was the deepest run ever for the program. Meanwhile, Central Catholic’s first-round game will be played on the road against the District 3 champion.