NEWTOWN – Corrine McConville tries to find positives in every game.

The Lehighton field hockey coach sees each contest as a chance to grow and get better.

McConville viewed Tuesday’s game as another opportunity for the Indians to improve.

Though Lehighton fell 3-0 to New Hope-Solebury in the first round of the PIAA Class A tournament, the first-year head coach is hopeful the knowledge and skills gained this season will serve as a catalyst for the team moving forward.

“It’s very exciting, you know?” McConville said. “We’re like learning new things around every corner. And I really hope this gets us to the (point) where we never want to feel this way again.”

The state tournament is nothing new for McConville or the District 11 runner-up Indians. McConville was a member of the team that won the program’s only PIAA championship in 2009.

That’s not the case for the Lions, who have enjoyed the greatest season in school history in 2017.

It continued with another impressive performance against Lehighton.

“We’ve just been having a really nice year,” said New Hope-Solebury head coach Gwen Smith. “We won districts for the first time in our history. This is our first state game we’ve ever won in our history. So it’s just an awesome ride.”

Defense has been a staple for the Lions, who allowed just one goal in 18 games en route to a District 1 title.

New Hope has a pretty good offense, too.

Kate Dougherty provided the spark against the Indians.

Dougherty came off the bench and found the back of the cage on an assist from Sara Hayden less than three minutes after entering the game. The freshman added another score after a penalty corner to give the Lions a 2-0 lead at the intermission.

“She comes off the bench, and she is that spark,” Smith said of Dougherty. “She’s just got some speed, she’s got really good timing, and she can see passes well, and that’s really what she brings. And that’s what’s exciting, to bring that off of the bench, and be able to put that right in.

“Literally, I don’t even know how long she was in the game before she scored. It was in a matter of minutes, and she’s just awesome. “

Mackenzie Meyers scored off a penalty corner on an assist from Sarah Wilson with 26:31 remaining in the second half to make it 3-0.

Lehighton was never able to find a rhythm offensively, recording two shots on goal and no penalty corners.

“As far as our game plan always goes … we play ‘Team X,’ they come up there, we play our game, and it’s about us,” said McConville. “And literally, if we do the fundamentals of field hockey that we’ve been taught and we do, we do well. And today, we just weren’t really there.”

The early lead played into New Hope’s hands, allowing the Lions to control the tempo and pace of the game.

“That was definitely one of our goals, that we wanted to get on the board early,” said Smith. “Basically, the biggest thing is that we really wanted to get on the board early because that is where we just do better.

“We get there, we relax, and we just kind of keep going. It has just been our mode, that if we can get on the board early, and then we just keep going, and it’s just a really special thing.”

New Hope will face the winner of the Wyoming Seminary – Tulpehocken game in Saturday in the quarterfinals.

McConville is hoping it’s her team that’s looking forward to another game next season.

And maybe more.

“At the end of the year, only one team can really feel good about their entire season, and that’s whoever takes the state championship,” she said. “So that’s what we’ll be coming for in the next few years.”

REMATCH … Lehighton beat New Hope 1-0 in this round a year ago.

MOVING ON … McConville praised her three seniors – Lauren Marks, Maura Phelan and goalie Michelle Bozilesky – who have played a huge role in the success of the program during their careers. “I’d like to thank our three hard-working seniors. We’re gonna miss them a lot next year,” said McConville.