In just the third year of the lacrosse program, Northwestern Lehigh reached the District 11 2A finals last season. The Tigers finished 12-8 and pulled off an upset in the quarterfinals of districts by beating Moravian Academy 8-7 in overtime with Drew Sabo scoring the game winner. The Tigers then fell to powerhouse Allentown Central Catholic in the finals.

Northwestern is ready to take the next step and win the gold rather than getting district silver medals again. The players realize that teams are going to be taking them more seriously and looking to knock them off, but the seniors have stressed to the younger players that they have to keep working hard to improve and get that next step.

“It’s been awesome seeing the program grow as a team and as a community,” said senior Austin Sosnovik. “We have higher expectations for this season, and we are looking to keep moving forward and get the gold this year.”

Sosnovik and younger brother Stone, who is a junior, will both be back on the field for the Tigers this season and ready to take on larger roles. Austin Sosnovik scored 31 goals last season, including two in the semifinal win over Moravian.

Senior Cade Christopher (16 goals, 19 assists) and junior Blaine Snyder (28 goals, 9 assists) are also back. Senior Ty Meck is the key player defensively for Northwestern. Devin Hildebrand, a junior, will be taking faceoffs for the team in an increased role. In goal, Bailen Smargiassi returns.

“I put our starting 10 players out there against anybody,” said Northwestern head coach Marcus Janda. “But where teams like Central get us is with their depth. They can rotate players in and out and we are not able to do that as effectively because we just don’t have the numbers.”

Janda believes that to be the best, you must beat the best. That philosophy led to the scheduling of tough teams on the regular season roster. The Tigers will have two games against Central Catholic (19-1) and games against other East Penn Conference powerhouses Easton (17-5), Parkland (15-5), Freedom (17-5), and Emmaus (12-7). They also face Moravian Academy (10-7) twice.

“If I were them (Moravian Academy), I wouldn’t be too happy about that loss last year and I would really be looking to beat us this year,” said Meck, who is looking forward to the rematch.

In the season opener, Northwestern Lehigh beat Bethlehem Catholic. Blaine Snyder scored six times in the game, with Austin Sosnovik and Christopher both scoring three goals. Hildebrand and Josh Wambold scored two goals each. Braxton Lakatosh, Carter Zentz, Meck, and Colton Popp all scored once in the 16-0 romp.

Saucon Valley is next on the schedule Thursday before a trip to Northampton to face the Konkrete Kids on Tuesday and then host Freedom next Thursday.