Many of the top teams in Lehigh Valley girls soccer are known before the season starts each year.
Parkland, Emmaus, Northwestern Lehigh and Moravian Academy often begin as the title favorites in their respective leagues before rosters and schedules are even announced.
One team that isn’t typically a part of those conversations is Palisades, but the Pirates are looking to change that after bringing back the majority of a core that played top teams as well as anyone in the Colonial League last year. Their calling card was a stout defense, and it appears that isn’t going to change in 2025.
Coach Tim Houghton’s team pitched a shutout in all three games to start the season and is outscoring opponents 16-0 so far. New Hope, Kutztown and Palmerton couldn’t find the back of the net in the season’s opening week, but Felicity Houghton and Dakota Wizeman had no such trouble for the Pirates.
Both players registered four goals and three assists in the first three games, and Mia Battoni and Jane Salva each posted two goals as well.
“It’s a positive start, and one we hope to build on, but the games only get harder,” Houghton said.
That didn’t stop him from pointing out some impressive individual performances.
Captains Jane Salva and Izzy Carson impressed with the leadership and direction they’re providing. Gabrielle Brader and Aniela Brewer joined Houghton and Wiseman as standout performers in the junior class. Sadie Chilton and Julianna Hershey are holding it down in net.
But Battoni’s brilliance, leading to two goals and two assists in the opening three games, seemed to stand out as a potential x-factor in what looks to be a promising season.
“Mia Battoni as a sophomore is making a huge impact,” Houghton said. “[She] is an incredible technical and gifted player.”
She provides another attacking option for a team that will only need a goal or two in many games this season as a sound and organized defensive unit does the rest to put the Pirates in position to make some noise this season.
Hat trick heroes for Saucon Valley
In all likelihood, Elliot Policare and Tesia Mikuta are going to battle it out for Saucon Valley’s all-time lead in goals this season. The elite attacking duo split the pot in Saturday’s 10-1 win over Salisbury as each registered three goals in a dominant win over the Falcons.
Four assist day for Lizzy Bender
Goal scorers get most of the glory on a soccer field, but they always know to give plenty of the credit to the teammate who helped set up the eventual goal. Four different players had the opportunity to thank Lizzy Bender on Saturday as the junior forward tallied all four assists in a shutout win over Dallas. Bender led the EPC in assists last season and is on her way to do it again before taking her talents to the University of Delaware in 2027.
Standout players
Isabella Hallal, Parkland
Hallal dominated the first week for the second straight season and now finds herself as a standout player in back-to-back years. The senior forward buried a hat trick against Freedom in a 4-0 win to open the year and added one of the team’s three goals against Easton to continue the undefeated start.
Tallia Hill, Bethlehem Catholic
The Golden Hawks brought back plenty of talent from last year’s team with Hill spearheading a senior-laden assault. She brought her shooting boots in week one, scoring a team-best six goals in the opening week to get her team off to a 2-0 start.
Hallie Thomas, Southern Lehigh
While they spread the wealth well last season, the Spartans never had someone emerge as the standout goal scorer last season. Thomas tied for the team lead with nine goals, but without anyone in double-digits, Southern Lehigh failed to get a goal across in both postseason matchups, losing 1-0 in both. With a hat trick in game one and another goal and an assist in an overtime win over Fleetwood, Thomas is on her way to becoming that reliable scorer who can flip her team’s fate in the playoffs.
Player of the Week
Ella Scharper, Emmaus
Like I said above, the goal scorers often get all the glory. Bender racked up the assists this week for the Green Hornets, but Ella Scharper came through with all of the big goals. The sophomore converted a second-half penalty kick to tie the game against Wilson West Lawn, scored an insurance goal in the 4-0 win over Dallas, and most importantly, netted the game-winner in overtime against Whitehall on Thursday night.
Other notes
Northwestern Lehigh’s Sophia Schaffer began her highly anticipated junior season with four goals against Fleetwood and added another in a statement win over Central Columbia later in the week … Bangor is off to a 4-0 once again after a handful of nail-biting wins against EPC and Colonial League opponents alike … Moravian Academy enjoyed a magical second half against Lehighton as Elena Reid, Sarah Pulcini and Elle Price all found the back of the net to break a halftime deadlock and secure a 3-0 win … Aubrey Frable and Avery Barry helped Palmerton break a school record for margin of victory with 4 goals apiece vs. Dieruff to start the season … Northampton started its district title defense strong with a 4-1 win over Moravian Academy. Brielle Szoke scored two goals to lead the way for the Konkrete Kids.
Standings
As of 9/1/25
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
(overall and conference record)
ACCHS; 2-0; 2-0
Parkland; 2-0; 2-0
Nazareth; 2-0; 2-0
Becahi; 2-0; 2-0
Northampton; 2-0; 1-0
Emmaus; 2-1; 1-0
Whitehall; 2-1; 1-1
Stroudsburg; 1-1; 1-1
Pleasant Valley; 2-2; 1-1
Easton; 1-1; 1-1
PM East; 1-1; 1-1
ES South; 1-2; 1-1
Freedom; 0-2; 0-2
Liberty; 0-3; 0-2
Dieruff; 0-3; 0-2
PM West; 0-3; 0-2
ES North; 0-3; 0-2
Colonial League
(overall and conference record)
Bangor; 4-0; 2-0
Saucon Valley; 2-0; 2-0
Moravian Academy; 2-1; 2-0
NW Lehigh 3-0; 1-0
Palisades; 3-0; 1-0
Southern Lehigh; 2-0; 1-0
NDGP; 2-1; 1-1
Wilson Area; 2-2; 1-1
Catasauqua; 1-2; 1-1
Northern Lehigh; 1-2; 1-1
Jim Thorpe; 0-4; 0-1
Palmerton; 1-2; 0-2
Pen Argyl; 1-2; 0-2
Lehighton; 1-2; 0-2
Salisbury; 0-2; 0-2
Rankings
1. NW Lehigh
2. Parkland
3. ACCHS
4. Emmaus
5. Nazareth
6. Northampton
7. Saucon Valley
8. Moravian Academy
9. Bangor
10. Palisades
Top scorers
As of 9/1/25
Marta Perry; Pleasant Valley; 7
Tallia Hill; Becahi; 6
Elliot Policare; Saucon Valley; 6
Sophia Schaffer; NW Lehigh; 5
Tesia Mikuta; Saucon Valley; 5
Isabella Hallal; Parkland; 4
Felicity Houghton; Palisades; 4
Dakota Wizeman; Palisades; 4
Hallie Thomas; Southern Lehigh; 4
Aubrey Frable; Palmerton; 4
Avery Barry; Palmerton; 4
Peyton Foder; Pleasant Valley; 4
Payton Shillady; Pleasant Valley; 4
Ella Scharper; Emmaus; 3
Lyla Bulay; ESS; 3
Piper Policare; Saucon Valley; 3
Keegan Merklin; Pleasant Valley; 3
