Some games may look like they don’t matter on paper because playoff implications aren’t involved, but don’t tell that to both the Lehighton and Northern Lehigh field hockey teams.

After battling against each other during a 1-0 Bulldog victory last week, Bulldog Stadium was the site for the rematch between the two squads on Thursday evening.

Spectators were treated to an entertaining contest, which eventually resulted in the Indians rallying late to earn a 2-1 win for their first Colonial League victory of the season.

On a night when Nolehi honored its lone senior hockey player, Arianna Williams, there was extra motivation for the home team to earn another win over one of their rivals. The visitors, meanwhile, were looking to avenge last week’s defeat and snap a seven-game losing streak in the process.

The game began with a scoreless first quarter, with neither team wanting to give their opposition any quality scoring chances. The ice eventually broke 3:27 into the second when Lehighton’s Jordan Hausman worked the ball free from a scramble and set up Lilyana Shapiro deep in the circle who jammed it home for a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs showed no quit in their game and kept patient for their opportunities; a decision that would pay off with just over three minutes before halftime. On an offensive rush, Ada Porobenski sent a lead pass ahead to McKenzie Chruscial who won the race to the ball against Indian goalkeeper Lillian Klotz and put home the game-tying goal.

An excited NL head coach — and mother — Allison Chruscial, couldn’t help but express how much improvement her team has shown over the season in their effort to generate offense in situations like this one.

“From where we were Week 1 to where we are this week now, this team isn’t even the same team,” she said. “We are playing collectively as a whole. We are playing just much better fundamentally, and we’re scoring. We’re putting points on the board. We’re getting ourselves into position to score, and that’s really all I can ask.”

With a brand new game tied at 1-1 to begin the second half, the third quarter was a repeat of the first with no scoring and strong defense on both ends.

However, momentum began to shift in favor of the Indians as scoring opportunities started leaning in their favor during the fourth.

The Tribe’s hard work paid off with just under three minutes remaining, as the same duo that opened the scoring teamed up again. This time, it was Shapiro who drove hard to the net and set up Hausman in tight to push across the eventual game-winning goal.

“It was amazing,” Hausman said about her goal. “I know this team has been working hard all season, and it showed in this game that we really wanted it. It just felt great to end the game with a win.”

Jubilance filled the Lehighton players as they took home their first victory in the Colonial League this season, and gained their first win since defeating Pleasant Valley 2-1 on Sept. 12. Although the season hasn’t gone the way Lehighton would have liked, this victory was a bright spot.

“The win tonight wasn’t just because we wanted it more, it was because we followed a really solid game plan and we adjusted on the fly,” said Indian head coach Jen Lobasso. “We capitalized in the circle. If it wasn’t on goals tonight, it was on corners. And no matter what happened, we continued to fire away.

“My girls play with a lot of heart. They’ll lay it all there out in the field, and that’s what makes not just the win special, but this team special.”

“At the end of the day, we’re all family and we all come together and we just wanted it,” said Shapiro. “We’re going to come to practice and put in the work, and then when it really matters, we’re going to put it all out on the field.”

On the other side, coach Chruscial continues to praise her team’s effort in spite of how the Bulldogs’ season has been going.

“Our focus from day one was growth; working as a team, putting points on the board, working collectively, and they’re (playing) just better field hockey overall,” she said. “Their attitudes have totally shifted as well. They feel more now that they can win.

“They are proud of the performance they’re putting out there on that field, and they’re proud that they are competing more with these other teams. Tonight we came up short, but I am not at all disappointed in their play.”

MUSICAL SUPPORT … The Northern Lehigh marching band performed the national anthem and fight song to kick off the game in support of its field hockey team.

WAVE OF YOUTH … Members of the Nolehi youth field hockey team attended the game, showing signs of promise for the future of the program.

Lehighton 2, Northern Lehigh 1

Lehighton 0 1 0 1 - 2

Northern Lehigh 0 1 0 0 - 1

Goals: Lehighton - Lilyana Shapiro 1, Jordan Hausman 1; Northern Lehigh - McKenzie Chruscial 1; Assists: Lehighton - Jordan Hausman 1, Lilyana Shapiro 1; Northern Lehigh - Ada Porobenski 1; Shots: Lehighton - 11; Northern Lehigh - 5; Saves: Lehighton - Lillian Klotz 3; Northern Lehigh - Madelynn Husack 4; Corners: Lehighton - 8; Northern Lehigh - 1.

Records: Lehighton (3-11-1; 1-11-1 CL); Northern Lehigh (2-14; 2-12 CL).