Executing set pieces in soccer is crucial for a team.

The Northwestern Lehigh girls showed that they were able to take what they learned in practice and take it into a game when they were awarded two corners early in their Colonial League semifinal matchup and converted both of them into goals on their way to a 4-0 win over Southern Lehigh.

The first corner saw a pair of freshmen connect as Sophia Schaffer sent a ball directly in front of the goal that goalie Ava Forner was able to block, only to see it bounce right to Alexis Kercher, who didn’t miss the opportunity to put her team up 1-0 just 1:46 into the game.

“The ball was right there, and I just really ran through it and got it to the back of the goal,” said Kercher of the opening goal.

Four minutes later, another corner was awarded, and Schaffer again lined up to start the play and again put the ball in a perfect spot. This time, senior Katie Brensinger used her height and headed the ball past Foran to give the Tigers a 2-0 start right out of the gate.

“I just try to get the ball inside to a spot where someone can make a play,” said Schaffer of her two assists. “We work on that a lot in practice, and we did a good job of getting the corners tonight.”

The Spartans slowed down Northwestern’s offense, but when the Tigers found a lane down the side of the field, Southern Lehigh was called for a foul in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. Syenna Flores not only got her kick past the defensive wall but put it to the right of Foran, who was unable to get to the ball to prevent Northwestern from taking a 3-0 lead.

Northwestern’s defense limited the Spartans to just three shots on goal in the game, while Northwestern collected 12 shots on goal against Foran and the Southern Lehigh defense.

“They [Southern Lehigh] actually played well defensively. We got the two corners and the penalty kick, but other than those, they played us well,” said Tigers head coach Jordan Smith. “We were able to get through for a lot of shots, but they got tougher around the goal, and they put two different goalies out there that did a good job against us.”

The Spartans put Meghan Conron in goal in the second half and between the stiffening defense and Conron making some athletic saves, Northwestern’s offense was slowed. Meanwhile, Southern Lehigh continued to look for a way to get back into the game, but Northwestern goalie Olivia Reinhart was keeping any shots that did come through from going onto the scoreboard as goals.

Northwestern has allowed just eight goals all season and has 12 shutouts, including holding its opponent scoreless in seven of its last eight wins.

With 14:50 left in the game, the freshman class struck again. This time it was Kherington Yezik, off an assist from senior Cammy Fitch, who found the back of the net to close out the scoring.

“We all came in confident tonight and worked together as a team,” said Schaffer. “We’re playing really well, and the seniors have really helped to make me, and the other freshmen feel confident and helped us to fit in with the team.”