All Lehighton needed was one.

One goal to settle in. One goal to change the momentum.

Then came three more.

The Indians erupted for four unanswered first-half goals Thursday night, turning an early deficit into a 4-1 victory over North Schuylkill and the first championship game berth in program history.

No. 3 seed Lehighton knocked off the second-seeded Spartans in the District 11 Class 3A girls soccer semifinals at Northern Lehigh, earning the program’s first appearance in either a league or district title game.

Sophomore Claire Bridy also broke the school’s single-season scoring record, adding another milestone to an unforgettable night.

“Oh, it’s a tremendous win,” Lehighton head coach Carl Wolter said. “We’ve had a program here for 28, 29 years, and this is the first time in school history that the girls made it to the District 11 championship game. It’s huge.”

It didn’t come without an early challenge.

North Schuylkill controlled much of the possession in the opening minutes and struck first when Abby Smith scored less than 10 minutes into the contest.

The Spartans continued to apply pressure, but Lehighton remained composed. And once the Indians found their rhythm, the game changed dramatically.

Sophomore Haley Wehr scored to pull Lehighton even at 1-1, and classmate Serenity Dilts followed with a goal with less than 15 minutes remaining in the first half to give the Indians their first lead.

Then Bridy took over.

The sophomore found the back of the net for her 38th goal of the season, breaking the previous school record of 37 set by Alyson Andrews in 2014.

With a little more than three minutes remaining before halftime, Bridy struck again for her 39th goal, extending Lehighton’s lead to 4-1.

Wolter has seen his team respond to adversity before.

“I’ve kind of learned as a coach that just because we’re down by one doesn’t mean we’re out of it,” he said. “It’s almost like they’re a diesel engine, that they need to warm up a bit.

“Eventually, they’re gonna warm up and they’re gonna kick it in. And when they kick it in, man, it’s fun to watch.”

Bridy credited her teammates for keeping their composure through the difficult start.

“It’s a team effort, and we all just back each other up,” she said. “Our defense, our forwards, everybody knows when to say, ‘Hey, wake up, wake up.’”

Bridy’s second goal provided some much-needed breathing room, and a memorable moment for the sophomore, whose father, Mike, coaches Lehighton’s boys soccer team.

“That was such a big deal to me. That was such a big deal to the team,” Bridy said. “I heard my dad on the sideline saying, ‘Put one more away.’ And when I did that, I just felt so good.

“Having that three-goal lead, it just felt like a big weight on our shoulders got lifted because we all worked so hard together to get those four goals.”

The Indians made sure the advantage held up.

Senior goalkeeper Cassidy Litts made 18 saves, while Lehighton’s defense kept North Schuylkill off the scoreboard throughout the second half.

“The whole team just has each other’s back,” Wolter said. “Their communication on the field, the way that they work together, their effort, their heart, it’s all coming together right now, and it’s perfect timing.”

That togetherness has been especially important with Lehighton playing without senior captain and starting center midfielder Taylor Moyer, who suffered a torn ACL.

Moyer remained involved Thursday, serving as an assistant coach from the sideline while her teammates adjusted to different roles.

“To be able to step up and change our formation, change who’s playing and what position, it says a lot about the character of all of these girls,” Wolter said.

The coach also credited the demanding league schedule for helping prepare the Indians for the postseason. Facing quality competition throughout the year has helped Lehighton develop the versatility and resilience needed to reach this stage.

And while Bridy’s record-breaking performance provided one of the night’s biggest highlights, the sophomore was quick to share the credit.

“I wouldn’t have been able to put up those two goals without my girls,” she said. “They seriously carried this team, not only with the ones who scored, but also the ones who were defending, the ones who were stepping to the ball, winning balls in the air, and our goalkeeper keeping every single ball outside the net.”

For Wolter, the accomplishment reflects a program that has embraced his message of getting better together.

“One team, one goal, and that goal is that we all get better together,” he said.

Now, the Indians have an opportunity to accomplish something even bigger. Lehighton will face top-seeded Blue Mountain in the District 11 Class 3A title game Nov. 4.

Bridy is eager for the chance.

“I am so unbelievably excited,” she said. “I really hope this journey continues, especially in the championship game. Hopefully, we can pull out a win there.

“We’re here to prove what Lehighton is, and we did that tonight.”

Lehighton 4, North Schuylkill 1

North Schuylkill 1 0 - 1

Lehighton 4 0 - 4

Goals: North Schuylkill - Abby Smith 1; Lehighton - Claire Bridy 2, Haley Wehr 1, Serenity Dilts 1. Assists: Lehighton - Bridy 1. Saves: Lehighton - Cassidy Litts 18.

Records: Lehighton (13-7-1); North Schuylkill (11-10-1)