Pleasant Valley didn’t need long to take control.

After a 2-2 first quarter, the Bears broke the game open with a seven-goal second and rolled to a 17-6 non-league win over Northwestern on Friday night.

Pleasant Valley seized control in the second quarter and never gave it back, using a balanced attack and strong communication to pull away.

“It was a great game,” said Pleasant Valley first-year head coach Hanna Doerner. “I think our girls did a really great job holding their composure. They’ve been working really hard, and the team chemistry is just building.”

Brielle Halamar played a major role in that surge.

The sophomore finished with a career-high six goals, repeatedly finding space and capitalizing on opportunities as the Bears’ offense found its rhythm.

“I think it really came down to our team clicking together,” Halamar said. “Playing Northwestern, they were one of the better teams we’ve played so far. Just trusting each other, making sure we were getting the right looks and calming it down.”

That rhythm carried throughout the night.

Lexi Green added four goals and two assists, Samantha Miller contributed three goals and an assist, Rylee Rath scored twice, Peyton Knecht finished with a goal and two assists and Gabby Kutzler added a goal.

Northwestern stayed within reach early behind a pair of freshmen, as Madelyn Lagowy scored all three of her goals in the first half and Caliana Colistra matched her with three second-half goals and an assist.

Colistra opened the second half scoring to make it 9-4, and later cut the deficit to 10-5 with 5:40 left in the third.

But Pleasant Valley responded with a decisive 5-0 run — highlighted by two more goals from Halamar — to extend the lead to 15-5 with 9:36 remaining.

After Colistra halted the run, the Bears closed the scoring with goals from Kutzler and Green.

Green, who scored the first and final goals of the fourth quarter, said that chemistry has helped younger players settle in early.

“Being my freshman year, it’s very stressful, very chaotic,” Green said. “But I’m really glad for the position that I’m in and all the people that I have around me. It’s helped me become a better player.”

Defensively, Pleasant Valley received a strong performance from junior goalkeeper Emilynn Stipeck, who finished with eight saves, while Northwestern’s Ashley Yacynych recorded 12 saves.

Yacynych, who had a strong debut season a year ago, anchors a Northwestern defense that continues to be a strength for the Tigers.

“I’m extremely impressed with our defense,” said Northwestern head coach Pam Colistra. “They’re a solid brick wall. They really do keep us in these close games.”

Despite the deficit, Northwestern continued to compete throughout.

“That’s the biggest thing we asked them to do — continue to battle,” Colistra said. “Take care of the little things. Ground balls and forced turnovers really hurt us during this game.”

With a youthful lineup and several underclassmen stepping into key roles, Colistra believes her team is still evolving.

“This is a great game to grow from,” she said. “We’re going to be a different team May 20 than we are today.”

That development mirrors what Pleasant Valley is experiencing on the opposite sideline.

The Bears graduated 10 seniors from last year’s 22-3 team — including co-player of the year Devon Bush — and also saw longtime head coach Toni Bush step away from the program.

“After losing those 10 seniors, these girls knew there were going to be a lot of role changes, including their head coach,” Doerner said. “So stepping into the position, it’s really an honor. Coach Toni did a great job with this program, and I feel very grateful that I can step into it with such a great community around me.”

Even with the turnover, Pleasant Valley’s identity remains rooted in chemistry and shared responsibility.

“Seeing stuff like that is very special as a coach,” Doerner said. “Sometimes you don’t even have to say things. They just know. They know how to take care of each other.”

“It’s not a one-person or two-person game,” Halamar added. “You need every person on the field.”

That mindset — along with Rath’s leadership — has helped maintain the program’s standard.

“We’re a brand new team,” said Rath, who was co-player of the year along with Bush and is a Division I recruit. “It’s a big change from what we’ve had the past three years. But we have weapons all across the field.”

“It’s definitely different,” Rath added. “It’s my last time on some of these fields, so I’m just trying to have fun and keep my head up the whole time.”

By the final horn, what started as a competitive matchup had turned into a convincing win — one fueled by teamwork, communication and a growing sense of confidence.

UP NEXT ... PV improved to 2-0 with the win. The Bears opened the season with a 19-3 victory over Moravian Academy and will travel to Danville today. The Tigers host Liberty Tuesday.

Pleasant Valley 2 7 3 5 - 17

Northwestern 2 1 2 1 - 6

Goals: Pleasant Valley - Halamar 6, Green 4, Miller 3, Rath 2, Kutzler 1, Knecht 1; Northwestern - Lagowy 3, Colistra 3. Assists: Pleasant Valley - Green 2, Knecht 2, Miller 1; Northwestern - Colistra 1. Saves: Pleasant Valley - Stipeck 8; Northwestern - Yacynych 12.

Records: Pleasant Valley (2-0); Northwestern (1-2)