The Northampton girls soccer team kicked off its 2021 season on Friday by claiming a 3-0 win at Notre Dame Green Pond on Friday.

The first half was fairly even in terms of scoring chances.

The Crusaders created the first moment of drama two and half minutes into the game on a nice through ball, but Olivia Vajda came well off her line to smother the ball before the Notre Dame forward could put a finishing touch on it.

The K-Kids recorded 9 shots on goal before intermission but were unable to break through despite dominating possession and being the more physical and aggressive team.

Head coach Michael Missmer talked about the team’s approach.

“Our nickname is the Konkrete Kids. We’re a physical team and one of our strengths is our ability to body people off the ball and make you not really want to play us,” he said.

Northampton ramped up its play in the second half, denying Notre Dame the long ball that had succeeded in generating chances.

The Kids finally got on the board with 17:42 left when Julia Minnich struck a cross and Lauren Straub headed it home inside the far post.

Missmer described the goal as “one of the prettiest I’ve seen since I got here.”

Five minutes later Raine Korpics notched her first goal of the season.

She described it: “I just saw one player in front of me and I knew I could get it. I took so many shots and it was hard to adjust to shooting on grass compared to turf. I just went around that player and put it into the corner of the net.”

Straub tallied the final goal of the game with three minutes remaining to play when she beat the keeper from near the penalty spot.

Straub attributed the second half success to the training the team has put in the year.

“This whole preseason we were focusing on getting in shape,” she said. “I felt like we weren’t huffing and puffing like we were in previous years. The stamina was there when we needed it.”

On Friday, Northampton hosts Central Catholic at 3:45. They return to Joan Kremus field on Saturday afternoon at 2 to play former division rival Nazareth.

The Kids play under the lights at home on Tuesday against Dieruff for Mentor Night. On Wednesday, the team travels to Parkland for the first of two regular season contests versus the Trojans.