Being a team that won 21 games in 2013, capped off by championships in both the Colonial League and District 11 Class AA tournament, the Northwestern girls soccer players understand the target they have on their backs.

And while the Lady Tigers are well aware of getting their opponents' best effort each game, they're off to a solid start in 2014.

The Lady Tigers improved to 3-0 overall (2-0 in the Colonial League) after downing Bangor (0-1 in Colonial League), 6-1, in Thursday's league match at Northwestern Middle School.

"I think our becoming aware of the fact that we're coming off a championship season from last year, we will draw everybody's best game," head coach Kelly Bleam said. "I think they are starting to realize that there is pressure there. I hope they don't realize it a whole lot, because I want them to enjoy their year. I don't want them to feel under pressure."

A goal by Bangor's Kylee Will tied the game at one with a little less than 26 minutes to play in the first half, and a number of shots deflected off the crossbar and side posts for the Lady Tigers kept the game tied as halftime approached.

But one goal from one of their offensive leaders seemed to spark the Lady Tigers the rest of the way.

Senior midfielder Angela Motolese displayed nifty footwork after dribbling in and out of the Bangor defense from midfield. The end result was a strike into the back of the net, putting the Lady Tigers ahead once again for good.

"Actually, I was looking for Sarah [Segan] the whole time," Motolese said, "but I couldn't find her. So I just kept going."

Motolese added her second of the game not even three minutes later to put Northwestern ahead 3-1 heading into half.

"I mentioned to the girls at halftime that I was very proud of their mindset," Bleam said. "To hit the bar a couple of times, hit the post a couple of times, [and] have a goalkeeper make some great saves, it can be very easy to mentally lose your spirit and desire because it's frustrating."

The Lady Tigers opened up the second half just like they did the firstwith a quick goal. Senior midfielder Sabrina Mertz fired a left-footed strike passed the outstretched hands of Bangor goalkeeper Montana Cassaro 8:01 into the second half.

Motolese then assisted on the Lady Tigers' next two goals that made it a 6-1 lead. After Abigail Chisdak's deep shot ended up in the upper right corner of Bangor's goal, McKenzi Divers kneed in the final score, her second tally of the game, with 21:11 remaining.

After Segan, the team's leading goal-scorer last season, scored eight goals through the Lady Tigers' first two games, a double-team strategy from the Slaters kept the 2013 Colonial League First-Team All-Star scoreless on the day.

But the Lady Tigers' depth on offense provides the team with numerous scoring options on any given day. On Thursday, it was Motolese and Divers each scoring two goals.

"It's a tremendous blessing to have that kind of depth in a high school program," Bleam said. "To have that kind of depth just in the scoring part of the field is a tremendous gift. Over the past couple of years, we as a whole team have worked to find other threats and avenues to create goals and finish goals other than Sarah."

"I think everybody on our team has a strength," Motolese said. "Everybody has their day. Segan of course gets a lot of goals and she is a great player, and the same with Sabrina. Everyone has their day to come out, and we did it today.

Cassaro recorded 16 saves for the Slaters, while Laura Hill stopped four in goal for the Northwestern.