Lady Tiger defense is team strength
Strength in one area can lead to other parts of a team having more confidence. That has been the case with the Northwestern Lehigh girls soccer team this season as its defense has helped to prop up every part of the team. Through 16 games, the Lady Tigers have allowed just three goals this season and 13 of their 14 wins have been shutouts, with only Northern Lehigh being able to score against them.
Having such a remarkable defense has given the offense an opportunity to relax, which has come in handy in some games. Early in the season, the offense was somewhat of a work in progress, but it had the luxury of working out the kinks knowing that there was not much pressure because of the players on the back line and in goal.
“Earlier in the season we weren’t scoring goals like we are right now, and our defense really bailed us out and they allowed our offense to figure it out until they got going,” said Tiger head coach Jordan Smith. “That’s a comfort thing for them to know that they don’t have to come out and score five or six goals to win a game. We can win games 1-0, 2-1 and going into playoffs, that’s how you have to win games.”
Seniors Kate Edgar and Rileigh Gehringer are big cogs in the Lady Tigers’ defense, but they both emphasize the fact that they play as a group and are quick to point out that they have years of experience playing together, which has helped them to be as strong as they are now.
“I’ve played with many of these girls since I was about five years old, so it’s been a long time,” said Edgar. “We have a great bond, and that familiarity definitely helps us on the field. Communication in the back is probably one of our strongest qualities. We always talk and we always know who is on who, and we always have someone marked.”
“We play very well together and we’re really a tight-knit group,” said Gehringer. “It also helps that we’ve all been together for a long time, so that gives us a good chemistry behind everything. Because we have played together so much, we know exactly where everyone is going to be, and it makes life easier for everyone.”
The last line of defense is the goalkeeper and Northwestern Lehigh has no concerns there. Junior Naomi Glassberg is one of the best around and while the defense gives confidence to the offensive players in front of them, Glassberg gives an added layer of comfort to the defenders.
“Our defense is able to play loose knowing that Naomi is behind them,” said Smith. “I think she’s probably the best goalkeeper in the Lehigh Valley and I think knowing they have that comfort blanket back there lets them play a little more aggressively.”
Many times, Glassberg looks lonely in front of the goal. While the defensive players love and respect Glassberg, their goal is to keep her as lonely as possible.
“We go out there thinking shutout and we don’t even want Naomi to have to touch the ball,” said Gehringer. “We have a high standard. The only goals we’ve allowed have been penalty kicks or a freak goal, so we definitely do have a high standard.”
Playoffs are just around the corner and that high standard will be tested against the best teams in the Colonial League and then in District 11. Glassberg may get to show off some of her skills, but that is only if the galvanized defense in front of her allows her to.