Log In


Reset Password

Bombers blank NW in field hockey

Skylar Kohler’s goal early in the third quarter ended a scoreless tie in a Colonial League match between Palmerton and Northwestern.

“Sometimes, I just pray that our hard hits get to the far post and our post girl is there and we get in it, and that’s what happened,” Palmerton head coach Lauren Michalik said.

Palmerton added another goal in the fourth quarter from Ana Recker to ice the game and seal the 2-0 win - the Bombers’ first victory of the season after suffering a 4-3 loss to Lehighton in its opener.

Although Palmerton controlled the game in the second half, Michalik said that wasn’t the case early.

“I thought it started out rough for us - and the girls thought the same thing,” Michalik said. “After every quarter, we kind of just sat together and talked about what we were going to work on for the next quarter.

“One of the big things was we were not communicating well, so that leads to us not playing as a team.”

The communication improved, and the Kohler goal with 13:16 left in the third quarter gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead.

Northwestern had a few scoring opportunities, but came up empty in its season opener.

“I think we played all right,” Northwestern head coach Lissa Opolsky said. “We have some good things to build off of. It was definitely a combination of some first-game jitters, being young, and figuring some things out along the way.”

Northwestern is coming off a strong 2020 season that saw it go 19-5 and earn a trip to the state playoffs.

“Our fundamental skills can always be better, and just understanding the parts of the game in the time that’s allotted to us,” Opolsky said. “As the season progresses, that will be a couple of our goals.”

Northwestern has a young team experience-wise, and will look to recapture the same success the team enjoyed last season.

MISSING OPPORTUNITIES

... Opolsky talked about not capitalizing on the team’s strategy, along with the strength of Palmerton. “Palmerton’s a very good team. They defend really well. I don’t think we necessarily capitalized on some of our strategy in important parts of the game, so that kind of led to some counter attacks and some transition situations.”

ADDING TO THE GOAL TOTAL

... Recker’s fourth-quarter goal assisted by Sydney Frantz brought Recker’s two-game goal total to three. Recker scored two goals against Lehighton on Sept. 4. She has now scored three of Palmerton’s five goals this season.

UP NEXT

... Palmerton (1-1) faces Catasauqua (0-1) on the road today. Catasauqua opened its season with a 6-0 loss to Salisbury on Wednesday. Northwestern (0-1) will face Southern Lehigh (1-0) today.

Palmerton's Ana Recker (right) races upfield with the ball as a Northwestern defender chases her from behind. LYNN SHUPP/ SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS