The halftime message for Whitehall’s girls soccer team in the District XI Class 3A quarterfinal was, if you want it, go out and get it, so with four goals and a clean sheet against Bangor on Tuesday night, the Zephyrs are moving on to a district semifinal against Southern Lehigh.

“I’m really pleased for our girls. They’ve worked really hard, and it’s been a rough year, and we got in on the last day, and here we are, and that’s really cool,” said Whitehall coach Chris Bleam. “We’re looking forward to [playing Southern Lehigh]. It’s obviously a big stage, and an important match, and they’re a good team. It was a good game the first time, and I’m sure it will be a good game the second time.”

Not knowing what to expect from the Colonial League’s Bangor Slaters, Coach Bleam’s priority was having the Zephyrs prepared and getting them over the hump of Tuesday night’s slow start.

“I thought the first 20 minutes we were in a heap of trouble. We were very passive and tentative, and their number six (Camryn Smith) kind of controlled the game,” Bleam said.

As Bleam rotated players in and out, the head coach reminded them to engage the Slaters earlier and pressure them sooner.

“The (first) goal helped give us a little bit of confidence,” said Bleam, “and then from there, we stepped up and took away the time and space [Bangor] had to play in the midfield.

Whitehall forward Ava Wells scored the Zephyrs’ first goal off Erika Rape’s free kick.

“We went over a lot of corner kick plays and free kick plays, so I think that helped me find where I was supposed to go and to make that run,” Wells said. “I was really excited, and it felt really good to kick the game off. I think this was one of our best games, and we really brought our A game.”

The Zephyrs spent much of the second half attacking in the final third and scored three goals as a result: two by Bella Fonzone and one in the final minute by Emma Potocnie.

“I scored the goal, but it comes through defending and winning the ball,” said Fonzone, who scored on an assist by Sage Snyder. “In the beginning, the pressure was more on us to not let a goal in. I think we had a good team talk at halftime, and wanted to defend and keep this one for our team.”

Whitehall keeper Samantha Kern kept Bangor from tying the match on the Slaters’ corner kick shortly before Fonzone’s first goal. Fonzone’s second goal came on a free kick.

“Originally, I saw two defenders, so we couldn’t do one of our runs, and then it was so close to the goal that the one would have been right in front of the penalty, so I couldn’t do that, so I cleared everything out and went for the shot,” Fonzone said.

Potocnie put the exclamation point on the match with :42 remaining on the clock.

Whitehall’s semifinal against Southern Lehigh is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Emmaus.

“I think we have the momentum,” said Fonzone, “and since we lost our teammate, that means a lot to us and the community.”