When something keeps working, keep doing it until it stops.

That was Palmerton’s strategy in Monday night’s District 11 Class 2A girls soccer first-round matchup against North Schuylkill.

The Blue Bombers used lead passes to speedy strikers driving past the Spartan defense, resulting in a first-half scoring outburst on the way to a 7-0 victory.

Palmerton’s approach became clear early — send through balls between North Schuylkill defenders to open space for forwards to use their speed and create scoring chances. Not only did it work, but it kept working, producing another five Bomber goals in the first half, including four in less than seven minutes.

Aubrey Frable and Avery Barry were the main beneficiaries, as Frable tallied two of those goals while Barry added another three to finish with four goals and an assist.

“I kept getting those through balls, which was really good,” said Barry. “I think it’s just something we noticed as the game progressed. We have really quick forwards. I know Aubrey (Frable) and I are both really fast, so those through balls just work a lot of the time. We like to use those to our advantage.”

Originally thought to be outside the top eight seeds in Class 2A, North Schuylkill later learned Thursday that it had qualified for districts with its Schuylkill League record (5-5-2). Even head coach Clint Warner did not find out until after his team had already put a bookend on the season.

“We didn’t think we made districts, but when we found out we made districts, we got spooled back up to play,” he said. “The score isn’t what we wanted, but ultimately it’s another successful season for the Lady Spartans; second time qualifying for districts in history.”

Palmerton had been preparing to travel to Northwestern for its quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, but instead got the opportunity to have one more home game to begin the playoffs.

“I definitely think that it was nice to have another home game,” said Bombers junior Frable. “Being able to play with them one last time on our home turf was definitely special. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I think that it was great coming into the first round of playoffs with confidence.”

It didn’t take long for the Bombers to get on the board. Just over four minutes into the contest, Frable dribbled downfield and set up freshman Barry for a backdoor tap-in.

The second half for Palmerton was all about ball management and defense to close out the game, with freshman Harper Lake adding a late goal to put the cherry on top of a dominant performance.

“I think the performance today matched exactly what we had gone over the last few days when we found out that we had to play today,” said Bombers head coach Jon Perloni. “Obviously we were expecting to have a little bit more time before the game on Wednesday, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. I think that myself and my assistants prepared them well and I think the girls responded to the preparations going into today’s game.”

For the Spartans, Warner praised what his team accomplished in spite of adversity and looked ahead to a promising future.

“In the case of our team, we had within the first two weeks, two of my starters out. By the end of the season, I had five,” he said. “The really cool thing about the season is I had girls who maybe wouldn’t have gotten a lot of varsity time had we not had injuries. They got an opportunity to play and they stepped up. I think the talent in the group and the resiliency despite the injuries (stood out). It’s easy to just hang up the boots and call the season done when things get tough, but they did not. We’re young; freshmen, sophomores and a junior, two seniors graduating. So they still have a lot of good years ahead of them.”

ROAD AHEAD … Palmerton advances to the district quarterfinals and will travel to top-seeded Northwestern on Wednesday.

“Regardless of what anyone thinks is going to happen in terms of us playing Northwestern, we’re going to go into the game with as much intensity as we would any other game,” said Frable.

Palmerton 7, North Schuylkill 0

North Schuylkill 0 0 - 0

Palmerton 6 1 - 7

Goals: North Schuylkill - None; Palmerton - Avery Barry 4, Aubrey Frable 2, Harper Lake 1; Assists: North Schuylkill - None; Palmerton - Aubrey Frable 1, Addy Buck 1, Avery Barry 1, Kate Fritz 1, Anna Borger 1; Shots: North Schuylkill 8; Palmerton 27; Saves: North Schuylkill - Keira Wengrenovich 7; Palmerton - Taylor Wasilewski 4; Corners: North Schuylkill 2; Palmerton 1.

Records: North Schuylkill (5-12-2); Palmerton (8-9).