WHITEHALL - After her team had an early exit from the Colonial League playoffs, and knowing her players were facing some deadlines academically, Northwestern field hockey coach Lissa Opolsky said she did what a coach should do.

She gave them time off from practice, and told them to focus on school.

It was a decision that proved beneficial in the classroom, and also on the field.

Northwestern’s return to game action was impressive as it defeated Wilson, 4-1, in the District 11 Class 1A semifinals on Monday night at Whitehall High School.

“We took some time off, and we rested a little bit. It was good for them,” said Opolsky. “They’re pretty intelligent kids and have some hard classes, so they needed to do some academic stuff as well. When we regrouped, we focused on some of our strategy and varying some of our structures, which we were able to implement in the game tonight.”

The players agreed that the time away was good for them facing a Wilson team who the Tigers beat in last year’s district finals.

The Tigers’ resolve was tested early, however, when Wilson’s Payton Herncane was able to poke her stick through a bundle of players right in front of the goal to give her team a 1-0 lead.

But that only served to spur on the Tigers after their two weeks off.

Taylor Langley took little time to think about her team trailing when she got a goal with 5:18 left in the first quarter to knot the game at 1-1. It remained tied until Cara Thomas scored the first of her two goals almost five minutes into the second quarter.

“It was just kind of messy around the goal, and Carsyn [Van Norman] got her stick on the ball and tipped it to me, and I was right in front of the goal to tip it in,” said Thomas. “We worked really well together to get that easy one.”

The remainder of the second quarter and all except :41 of the third quarter went by with neither team gaining a distinct advantage. With time running down, there was again a battle near the goal cage, and this time Van Norman took the shot herself and put it past goalie Annalisse McAuliffe to give the Tigers a 3-1 advantage.

“I think we really needed this game to get a confidence boost after the Palmerton loss (in the CL semifinals),” said Thomas. “We had two weeks off, and having this game going into a championship against Palmerton again, I think we really needed that.”

Playing with more of a defensive mindset, Northwestern gave Wilson few opportunities to challenge goalkeeper Emma Yanders. Thomas put in her second goal of the night with five minutes remaining to put the exclamation point on the victory.

“I think we realized coming into this game that we’re guaranteed nothing, and that it was do or die and that really motivated us,” said Thomas. “I think we have things turned around and are ready for the rest of the playoffs.”

Northwestern came in as the No. 1 seed in the tournament, and had a first-round bye prior to last night’s semifinal game. Wilson was the No. 4 seed, having defeated No. 5 seed Lehighton in the quarterfinals.

“I thought they would be pretty relentless and want some revenge from last year, so I wasn’t surprised by the way they started,” said Opolsky. “I was hoping that we would start a little quicker, but we got it together and produced, so that’s all that matters at this point in the season.

“We had some really good passing connections, and this is a good game to build off heading into Thursday’s district final.”

GOING FOR GOLD … Northwestern will face Palmerton for the fourth time this season. The Tigers are 1-2 against the Blue Bombers, having beaten them in early September and then falling to them late in the regular season and in the semifinals of the Colonial League tournament.

“I think our girls just have to be more resilient in the moment, and understand that you have to stay in the moment all the time,” said Opolsky.”

STATES … By virtue of reaching the district finals, Northwestern qualifies for the PIAA tournament which begins next week. Winning gold at districts would keep it closer to home for the first round or two.