CATASAUQUA — There are very few guarantees in sports.

One exception is that when Northwestern Lehigh and Southern Lehigh meet up in a soccer game, it’s going to be physical.

And the intensity increases when the Colonial League championship is on the line.

The guarantee came through Saturday at Catasauqua’s Alumni Field when the two met in the league finals and as elbows flew and jerseys got pulled, Northwestern came out on top 4-0 to get its third straight league championship, and its sixth in the last seven seasons.

The two rivals went at each other for over 20 minutes, with neither team being able to change the scoreboard. Finally, Cole Mertz sent a picture-perfect crossing pass from the right side of the goal and found Caelan Stangil, who buried the shot for the game’s first goal.

“We’re just so familiar with each other that we almost instinctively know where we’re going to be. Cole is great at getting the ball to other players and he couldn’t have sent a better pass to me, it was right where I wanted it,” said Stangil of the opening goal, his 32nd of the season.

As the second half started, the physical style of play continued as well.

Midway through the half, Southern Lehigh was called for a penalty in the box, and the Tigers were awarded a penalty kick. Logan Mesics took the shot and as goalie Ismael Magallenes made just the slightest move to his right, Mesics took the ball to his left and fired it off of the back netting for a little breathing room for Northwestern Lehigh.

The tandem of Mertz, Stangil and Mesics have carried the Northwestern offense this season, and Saturday was no exception. With Stangil and Mesics getting into the scoring column, it stood to reason it wouldn’t be long before one of them would find Mertz open for a shot. The junior forward beat Magallenes for the third goal of the game and put Northwestern up 3-0.

“We came in knowing it was going to be a physical game because it always is with these guys, so we were ready for it. We just have to keep our heads in those situations and not let the style of play affect what we need to do,” said Mertz, who has 37 goals this season.

Frustration started to set in for Southern Lehigh, but Northwestern continued on with its game plan. As the clock started to wind down to the end of regulation, Northwestern found another scoring option when Egan Boyle was left open and threw another score up on the board when he scored his second goal of the year.

“It felt great to get one in a game like this. I was in a good spot and when the ball came in, it was right where I wanted it to be and I was able to get the goal,” said Boyle. “It was just one of those opportunities, and I’m glad I was able to take advantage of it.”

The 4-0 win gives Northwestern some confidence on its way to defending its District 11 championship.

The team came into the season looking to repeat not just in leagues, but in districts and states. While it can’t repeat its undefeated season from 2024, it can still get all of the gold medals it is after.

“They actually reminded me the other day that this wasn’t our first gold this season, it was our second; they reminded me about winning the Summer League,” said coach Nate Hunsicker. “These guys are really driven and want wins every time they go out there, whether it’s a summer league situation or states, they want to win no matter the situation.”

KNIGHTS IN NORTHWESTERN … The Tigers hold the top seed in District 11, and open defense of their 2024 championship Wednesday night at Tigers Stadium. The opening game is against the Green Knights of Pen Argyl, who Northwestern defeated 7-0 back on Sept. 11 in a regular season game.

Northwestern 4, So. Lehigh 0

Southern Lehigh 0 0 - 0

Northwestern 1 3 - 4

Goals: Southern Lehigh - None; Northwestern - Mertz 1, Stangil 1, Mesics 1, Boyle 1; Saves: Southern Lehigh - Magallenes 4; Northwestern - Carl 3.

Records: Southern Lehigh (12-7); Northwestern (20-1).