Jacob van Lierop has proved to be a scoring machine for the Northwestern Lehigh boys soccer in the early part of the 2024 season.

Through four games, van Lierop has 14 goals and 36 points. His outings include a pair of 10-point games where he had four goals and two assists each against Upper Perkiomen and Jim Thorpe.

The senior’s scoring outburst has helped Northwestern (2-0 Colonial, 4-0 overall) to an unbeaten start during which it has outscored opponents 26-3. Against two Colonial League opponents so far, Palmerton (1-1, 2-1) and Jim Thorpe (1-2, 1-3), the Tigers have picked up a pair of wins by a combined score of 13-2.

Against the Bombers, van Lierop had three goals and two assists with senior Jack Mauro, juniors Logan Mesics and Caelan Stangil, and sophomore Cole Mertz all adding goals in the win.

In addition to van Lierop’s two assists, seniors Cayden Lloyd and Nate Kinzel both added an assist as did Mertz and Stangil. In goal, Brandon Krapf and sophomore Dean Carl combined on a 7-0 shutout with Krapf getting credit for the win.

Tuesday night the Tigers traveled to Jim Thorpe, which is working its way through tits first season as a member of the Colonial League. The Tigers came away with a 6-2 win.

Again, it was van Lierop leading the way in goals with four. He and Mauro both collected two assists in the game. Mertz and Lloyd added goals and Mesics picked up an assist in the win. Krapf got the win, playing the entire game in goal. On the season, Krapf has a 0.8 goals against average per game.

Mertz is second on the team in goals with five. The sophomore forward came up with three goals in the win at Upper Perkiomen and has added a goal in both of the wins since then.

Over the next week, Northwestern plays on the road against Notre Dame-Green Pond (1-1, 1-2) and Bangor (2-0, 3-1) and will host Palisades (0-1, 1-3) and Pen Argyl (0-2, 2-2).