The Salisbury field hockey team had already made recent history when it locked up a place in the Colonial League playoffs.

But the Falcons weren’t satisfied with just getting to leagues for the first time since 2003. They wanted to wanted to show they belong there and are a team to be reckoned with.

They did just that Saturday, blanking Bangor 8-0 in a Colonial League quarterfinal game at Southern Lehigh.

“This is the first time making leagues in 21 years,” said Salisbury senior Maya Afif, who scored three goals in the win. “It’s just great to be standing here after this win. I’m so proud of all of us. I’m proud of my team. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of how far we’ve come.”

Salisbury got on the board just over five minutes into the game when senior Lauren Kushma scored the first of three goals in five and a half minutes to give her team a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.

Kushma’s first goal was assisted by Ellie Schneider with 9:44 left in the first quarter. Her next one came with 7:30 left, assisted by Gwyn DeFazio. Kendra Morgan assisted on Kushma’s third goal with 4:08 left in the first.

Schneider added a goal three minutes into the second quarter and DeFazio made it 5-0 with 10:20 left until halftime.

Afif capped the first-half scoring with a goal, assisted by Katie Carbone, with 6:45 left in the second quarter.

Afif scored a third-quarter goal assisted by DeFazio and one in the fourth assisted by Schneider.

“We are all just running on adrenaline right now,” said Kushma. “We were so excited to get [the postseason] started and we’re obviously excited to keep going.”

Salisbury outshot Bangor 31-4 in the game and had a 12-1 advantage in corners.

Falcon goal keeper Caroline Gedney made four saves.

The No. 3 seed Falcons (16-3 overall; 13-3 Colonial League) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals to take on No. 2 Southern Lehigh at 5 p.m. at Catasauqua Middle School. See next week’s Press for more about that game.

Salisbury’s playoff win is another achieved goal along a journey that has seen the team become a contender over the last few years. The program struggled to field winning teams for over a decade before head coach Jane Brennan took over.

“I’m so proud of the players they are, as well as the student-athletes they are,” Brennan said Saturday. “They are great on and off the field. Their commitment, their strength, their perseverance, all of it makes me a better coach.”

Afif, who is one of just two seniors on the team’s roster and has been part of the program since middle school, enjoyed her first league playoff game after the nerves settled.

“It definitely was very nerve-wracking in the beginning,” she said. “But as the game kept going on I felt like I was just having a lot of fun with my team.”

Afif is enjoying her final high school season, and her head coach is happy to help her make the most of it.

“Maya has always had her head screwed on straight,” said Brennan. “She never waivers about her dedication to the team. Making her one of our captains this year was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made. She really has pulled the team together. I’m just proud of her.”

Top seed Northwestern Lehigh faced No. 5 Wilson in the other semifinal Tuesday. The Tigers beat Saucon Valley 7-1 Saturday, while the Warriors edged Palmerton 3-2 in overtime.

Semifinal winners will meet in Thursday’s championship game.