Northwestern had all of the shots in the world. But midway through the second half of Thursday's District 11 Class AA girls soccer championship game, the Tigers and Saucon Valley remained locked in a scoreless game.

But with 18:30 left on the clock, that all changed on the Tigers' 26th shot of the game.

Sabrina Mertz lined up a shot from 23 yards out, and her strike hit off the right post of the Panthers' goal to lift No. 1 seed Northwestern over No. 3 seed Saucon Valley, 1-0.

"I think this was definitely the best game that we played all season," Mertz said. "Coming together with everyone playing so well, our combination really came together tonight. To finally finish that goal felt so good because we had so many chances."

"That girl takes some of the most amazing shots that you can possibly imagine," head coach Kelly Bleam said. "The work that went into getting that shot off was amazing."

The victory positions the Tigers at 20-1 on the season, and for the second time in as many seasons, Northwestern can call itself district champions. The last time a team from District 11 won back-to-back titles was when Tamaqua did it in 2008 and 2009.

"Never have I been part of back-to-back district championships," Bleam said. "To have back-to-back league and district championships like this is like wow."

The final score may have been a one-goal game, but the Tigers dominated the possession battle and opportunities on goal. In all, the Tigers generated 33 shots compared to six for the Panthers.

But despite being held scoreless for over three quarters of the game, there was never an ounce of desperation among the Tiger players or on the sideline. In fact, Mertz and Bleam agree that this was the Tigers' best performance of the season.

"That has to be the best soccer game they played all year," Bleam said. "I was so proud as a coach to watch the girls put everything that they do well and everything they learn throughout the season into affect."

"The fact that we were playing so well," said Mertz, "and kept it up in their end most of the time, we just had to keep going because we knew one was going to go in. It wouldn't matter who it was. Someone was going to get one."

Following a first half that saw Northwestern tally 14 shots, the final 40 minutes opened up with an even faster pace for the Tigers. With a little over 36 minutes to play, Sarah Segan set up McKenzi Divers in front of the Panthers' goal with a wide-open view of the net. Her shot, however, sailed wide right and kept it a scoreless game.

A little more than two minutes later, Segan sprinted passed a number of Panther defenders to have a one-on-one opportunity with Saucon Valley goalie Helen Ross. Ross was there for one of her 15 saves, and a Mertz follow up opportunity was wide of the post.

Divers had another opportunity with just over 27 minutes to play. Her shot from in front of the Panthers' goal came within inches of the goal line before a Saucon Valley defender came up with the save. Segan was there to try and clean up the loose ball, but Ross found her way to cover it up.

"I was so thrilled with the way the girls played," Bleam said. "That was a beautiful performance of soccer. I wasn't frustrated.

"It takes patience and it takes perseverance to continue to shoot, do all the right things, and keep at it. You miss one, you have to go again."

Coming into the game, the only blemish on the Tigers' season was a 3-2 loss to the Panthers early in the regular season. The two met in the Colonial League championship game where the Tigers won it in overtime, 2-1.

"You can't ask for a better team to play than Saucon," Mertz said. "They're always a great fight. You saw it in leagues only by one goal and in overtime, and by one goal here again."

PIAA FIRST ROUND

Northwestern beat Arch Bishop Wood in the first round of the state playoffs.

Tuesday's PIAA first round game against District 12 champ saw senior midfielder Sabrina Mertz come up big when the Tigers needed her most.

Late in first half play, the Colonial League first team all-star dribbled through a number of Viking defenders to fire in a strike from 18 yards out that put Northwestern in front by a goal in the 28th minute. The Tigers (21-1) added another tally early in the second half to down the Vikings (15-7-1), 2-0, at Northeast High School's Charles Martin Memorial Stadium.

"It's my senior year, and I really never want it to end," Mertz said. "I just keep wanting to play as many games and have more practice with these girls. I love every one of them. They are my family. I really don't want it to end."

The victory advances the Tigers back to the PIAA quarterfinal round for the second consecutive year. Northwestern faces District 3's Greencastle-Antrim on Saturday at a time and place to be determined.

Northwestern has not advanced past the quarterfinals in head coach Kelly Bleam's 17 years at the helm. And while there is no set goal, Bleam does want to see her squad continue playing solid soccer until the final whistle.

"I do not have any set expectations for them as a team in the state tournament," Bleam said. "Our whole focus at practice, and our whole focus in this tournament is to play the best soccer we can play. Every team is good. We have to get on the field and do the best job that we can do every moment that we're on the field."

Rachel Fisher added another Northwestern goal on an assist from Madison Humes in the second half.

"I think it was aa carry-over from the district final about how we played very well," Mertz said. "I think we continue to play our best soccer. We just have to keep at it, which we did tonight."