Coming off its district runner-up season last fall, the Salisbury girls soccer team has turned the page to open this season just as impressively as the last one ended.

In the midst of the competitive District Class 2A ranks, the Lady Falcons (7-3) currently sit in third place after an 8-0 route of Catasauqua on Monday evening. That win marked Salisbury’s third Colonial League victory in a row after a tough 1-0 loss to Palisades last week.

“We are progressing nicely,” head coach Rick Babyak said. “The overtime loss to a good Fleetwood team was tough, but there were some good lessons to take from that game. We righted the ship in our first league match against Pen Argyl.”

That loss to Palisades is Salisbury’s only blemish in the Colonial League. And it’s that Palisades team (8-0) and a Northwestern squad (8-0-1) that are ahead of the Lady Falcons in both district and league standings. All three figure to be playing late in the district tournament when the time comes.

But for now in the regular season, Salisbury has used a strong defensive effort and timely scoring for plenty of success. That defensive success came after a strong showing in summer league play, and the Lady Falcons’ top three goal-scorers make it hard for opposing teams to focus on one weapon.

Rylee Donaldson (a team-high 16 goals), Kelly Gardus (10) and Erica Holben (6) have all shown the ability to go off at any given notice. During Monday’s shutout against Catasauqua, it was Gardus (three goals) and Holben (two goals) who led in the scoring department. In their previous game, another dominant showing with a 7-2 victory over Northern Lehigh, Donaldson couldn’t be stopped on her way to a game-high four goals.

“Our favored lineup is playing with those three up top,” Babyak said. “But the nice thing is that 11 other players have figured in the scoring with a goal or an assist in the first four games.”

One area Salisbury figured to endure some growing pains might have been in goal with the loss of all-area selection Kyra Bruns. But the combination of Katie Gilligan and newcomer Sarah McGee has provided Babyak with a steady one-two option in goal. Both have impressed him thus far.

“Actually we are in a good situation with goalkeepers,” Babyak said. “Both Katie Gilligan and Sarah McGee have had strong performances in the opening games. It can only help us as we have two reliable goalkeepers going into the heart of the season.”

While things seem to have been smooth sailing the past couple of games, the heart of the Colonial League season is just getting started for the Lady Falcons. And they know the road ahead is only going to get tougher as they prepare for a postseason berth.

Salisbury will look to knock off undefeated Northwestern on Wednesday as it travels to New Tripoli for a 4 p.m. game.

The Lady Falcons also get a chance at unbeaten Palisades next week.