Confidence.

For the Northwestern girls soccer team, it has been well earned the product of incredible talent and invaluable experience.

So despite shot after shot failing to find the net, the Tigers' confidence remained on target.

Even as minute after minute slipped off the clock, the Tigers' confidence never dwindled.

That's the benefit of having a talented core of senior leaders on the team. That's the result of being in those situations previously and finding a way to win.

So despite the fact that Northwestern's first 25 shots in Thursday night's District 11 Class AA championship game failed to produce a single goal, there was no worry.

Even though over 61 minutes had come off the clock and the Tigers and Saucon Valley were still locked in a scoreless tie, there was no panic.

For the Tigers, it was a case of 'been there, done that.'

When Sabrina Mertz finally found the net with 18:30 remaining, Northwestern had the lead.

A little while later, the Tigers were celebrating their fifth straight one-goal victory in the postseason – a postseason that has produced both Colonial League and District 11 titles.

After the game, from coach Kelly Bleam on down to her senior players, there was a common theme. They talked about confidence, belief and experience. It was obvious that Tigers never doubted they would find a way to win.

"We just kept preaching patience and resilience," said Bleam. "I was never worried that it would be one of those games where you do everything, but score.

"I have lots of confidence in this team. I never doubted that they would find a way."

Bleam has seen the Tigers grow from a squad that suffered several disappointing postseason losses when the nucleus of this year's squad was underclassmen to the team that has now won both league and district championships in consecutive years.

"We've had a lot of postseason success the last couple of seasons and I think that can definitely be attributed to our experience, leadership and our knowledge on the field," said Bleam. "We have been really talented the last few years, but talent isn't always enough.

"There are always going to be other teams that are talented as well. The difference is that now we've have the experience to go with that talent."

Throughout the postseason, Northwestern has displayed the ability to find a way to win close games. The Tigers have rallied late, they have jumped out to early leads, they have prevailed in overtime, and last night they did it by applying relentless pressure until the ball finally went in the net.

"We've played a lot of big games and a lot of close games in my four years," said Sarah Segan, who joins Mertz and Angela Motolese as Tiger seniors who have all received Division I scholarships. "I think we know what it takes to win and understand that you just have to stay patient in these types of games.

"I thought we played our best game of the year tonight. We got a lot of shots that didn't go in, but we just kept fighting and kept believing that we would eventually break through."

Motolese added, "We knew we had to keep working, working, working. If the shots aren't going in, you keep pressuring and staying positive until they finally do.

"That's what we did. We've been in a lot of close games this postseason and have found a way to win. We were confident we would find a way again."

It was Mertz who finally found a way.

Settling the ball with her back to the goal just outside the 18-yard box, Mertz quickly pivoted and drilled a shot the bounced off the goal post and into the net.

"We have a lot of experienced juniors and seniors on this team, so no one panicked when the shots weren't going in," said Mertz. "We stayed confident.

"But it felt really good to put the ball in the net. We had so many chances … I had so many chances … it was nice to see one finally go in."

For a confident Northwestern team, it was just a matter of time.

"Talent is an awesome thing," said Bleam. "But maturity and experience are pretty important as well.

"That combination has served us well, especially during the postseason."