Five area teams will be in action on Tuesday when the PIAA state playoffs start in boys soccer, girls soccer and field hockey.

Northwestern Lehigh crowned three district champions last week, and all three will be home in a triple-header at Tiger Stadium.

Jim Thorpe’s boys soccer team also won a district title to earn a berth in the PIAA postseason and a home game in the opening round, while Palmerton’s field hockey team will compete in states after a runner-up finish in districts.

The Tigers’ field hockey squad defeated the Blue Bombers 3-0 in the Class 1A championship contest last Thursday for their third straight district title. They will return to action Tuesday at 3 p.m. when they host Susquenita, the No. 3 seed out of District 3. Northwestern currently has a 20-3 record, while the Blackhawks have a mark of 17-3-2.

The winner will advance to the quarterfinal round Saturday to face either Wyoming Area or Wyomissing.

Palmerton, meanwhile, will be on the road in its first-round contest. The Bombers, with a record of 11-8-1, will travel to Quakertown to face Faith Christian — the District 1 champions. The Lions are 17-3 and defeated Pope John Paul II 1-0 in their district championship game. Tuesday’s game starts at 4:30 p.m.

At stake is a quarterfinal matchup against Boiling Springs or Midd-West.

The Northwestern girls soccer team will play the middle game of Tuesday’s triple-header on its home turf. The Tigers gained their sixth consecutive district title last week when they defeated Allentown Central Catholic 1-0 in the Class 2A finals. In the three district playoffs, Northwestern outscored its opponents by a 19-0 margin.

Undefeated at 21-0, the Tigers will face District 4 runner-up Hughesville at 5 p.m. The Spartans dropped a 1-0 decision to Central Columbia in their district final.

If Northwestern can keep its perfect mark intact, it will advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal round against either Lake Lehman or the Central Columbia squad that defeated Hughesville.

Like the girls team, the Tiger boys are also unbeaten at 21-0, and also claimed their sixth straight district crown last Thursday.

In the final game of Tuesday’s triple-header, Northwestern — which outscored its opponents 12-0 during the district playoffs — will meet Midd-West, the second seed out of District 4. The Mustangs, with a 15-3-2 record, fell to Lewisburg 2-1 in their district title game.

The winner of that contest, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, takes on Lancaster Catholic or Faith Christian in the quarterfinals.

Also looking to advance to the quarterfinals will be the Jim Thorpe’s boys soccer team.

The Olympians are coming off a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over Southern Lehigh in the D-11 Class 3A final. It marked the first district crown in program history.

Thorpe will host Franklin Towne Charter out of District 12 on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Warriors are the second seed out of their district.

The winner will meet either Selinsgrove or Dallas.

PIAA First Round Playoffs

(all games on Tuesday, Nov. 5)

Class 1A Field Hockey

Susquenita at Northwestern, 3 p.m.

Palmerton at Faith Christian, 4:30 p.m.

Class 2A Girls Soccer

Hughesville at Northwestern, 5 p.m.

Class 2A Boys Soccer

Midd-West at Northwestern, 7 p.m.

Class 3A Boys Soccer

Franklin Towne at Jim Thorpe, 5 p.m.