While Northwestern graduated the most recognizable piece of last year’s state semifinalist team, the Tigers have a lot of last year’s cast back this year and are expecting just as much from this season, maybe even more.

The Tigers are off to a 6-0 start to the season and while they are no longer relying on one primary scorer to do most of the damage, they are getting offense from several different players and it’s been working just as well as last year’s plan.

“This year it’s going to work to our advantage that we don’t just have one guy scoring goals,” said Tiger senior central defender Jon Blaine. “We just want to be tough and whoever is on that day gets the goals.”

In a 9-0 win over Palmerton last week, the Tigers had five different players find the back of the net.

The Tigers (2-0 overall, 1-0 Colonial League) had 16 first-half shots and built a 4-0 lead by halftime.

Noah Seng-DeLong got the Tigers on the board with 32:47 left in first half. The senior forward played a through ball from Creighton Thomas and had a one-on-one shot against Palmerton goalkeeper Ryan Yacone.

Caleb Danner made it 2-0 when Yacone saved his first attempt before the Tiger sophomore gathered the rebound and sent it into the net.

Seng-DeLong added a second goal, assisted by Kenny Gawelko, with 15:46 left in the first half. Gawelko capped the first-half scoring with 7:02 left on an assist from Sam Seyfried.

The Tigers got five second-half goals from four different players. Danner scored his second of the game and Andrew Goodolf connected for two while assisting on a Seyfried goal. Gawelko also scored his second of the game, assisted by Brad Shafer, who had two assists in the second half. Zachary Creighton had one second-half assist.

The Tigers have not allowed a goal this season. Last year’s team allowed just seven goals all season and this year’s squad could turn out to be just as stingy.

Blaine and teammate Tommy Creighton lead a stellar backfield and keeper Kyle Bellhorn was Second Team All-Colonial League last year.

The team owns league wins over Palmerton, Wilson and Saucon Valley this year, along with a nonleague win over Wilkes Barre-Myers.

The Tigers extended their Colonial League regular season win streak to 17 games when they beat Saucon Valley 2-0 Monday. They haven’t lost to a league opponent during the regular season since a 3-2 setback to Palisades on October 1, 2014.

While this year’s team is looking to do as well or better than last year’s team, the players know there’s still a long way to go.

“We’re not peaking right now,” said Seng-DeLong. “We want to peak a lot later,but I do feel there’s a good positive energy around the team right now.

“We look to do exactly what we did last year if not better.”