At the top, the Colonial League has been a two-team, head-to-head competition for several seasons.

The Northwestern Lehigh and Southern Lehigh girls have battled it out in the league tournament final in the last three falls. Each season, the Tigers shut out the Spartans to claim the postseason championship (2-0 in 2021, 3-0 in 2020 and 1-0 in 2019).

Each year, Northwestern entered as the tournament’s No. 1 seed, with Southern Lehigh as the second seed.

Is that scenario likely this season? It is possible again, of course, but both programs were hit hard by seniors moving on in the offseason.

Saucon Valley — which won one game in the COVID-shortened 2020 season — and ascending Northern Lehigh, appear to be prime contenders alongside the top two.

Palmerton’s program is another to watch.

The 13-team league kicks off on Tuesday with six contests, highlighted by defending champion Northwestern opening under the lights at home against Notre Dame-Green Pond. The six-team league tournament is set for early October.

Let’s take a closer look at the Colonial League landscape:

Northwestern Lehigh: The Tigers (20-2-1 overall last year, 11-0-1) graduated 14 seniors – including some extremely talented ones – from a team that secured Colonial League and District 11 championships.

The program, however, is so strong that it reloads rather than rebuilds.

Coach Jordan Smith returns one of the state’s elite goalkeepers in senior Naomi Glassberg (18 shutouts). Other senior returnees include Samantha Bardonner (midfield), Quinn Conrey (midfield) and Sarah Renner (defense).

Junior Cammy Fitch (midfielder; 9 goals, 5 assists) and sophomore Brook Balliet (6 goals, 5 assists) are the returning top scorers.

“Coming into the season with high expectations after three straight league and district titles,” Smith said.

Northern Lehigh: Coach Jason Reinhard’s Bulldogs (13-8, 9-4) continued their upward trend last year and should take another step this season.

They return eight starters, including a trio of talented seniors in Danielle Dougherty (defense), Caitlin Kirk (midfield), and Kaylee Wilk (midfield). Sophomore Katelyn Bartholdi (attack; 17 goals, 8 assists) was one of the league’s top scorers as a ninth-grader.

“We hope to compete at both the league and district levels,” Reinhard said. “The girls have been working very hard and I’m very proud of them.”

Saucon Valley: The Panthers (8-8, 6-6) went from one win in 2020 to .500 in 2021 under first-year coach Trent Seibert.

Seibert is back this year and so are some key players, along with a skilled group of underclassmen. A pair of seniors, Cameron Gonsalves and Zoie Coronado, are the backbone of the backline. Sophomore Ava Riehl (midfielder; 23 goals, 6 assists) and junior Karoun Goudsouzian (forward; 13 goals, 4 assists) provide scoring punch.

“Multiple versatile players can play different positions,” Seibert said, “and we have great leadership with our returning seniors.”

Southern Lehigh: It’ll be a challenge for the Spartans (18-4, 11-1) to maintain – or improve upon – their status as a top-two team in the Colonial League.

Coach Andrew Filler graduated 13 seniors from last season’s squad, including a strong, veteran backline. A solid core of five returns. They are seniors Annefloor Fooij (midfield), Jessica Mantz (defense) and Erika Patel (midfield/forward), and juniors Ava Foran (goalie) and Daniella Oviedo (midfield/forward).

“We’re a relatively young squad,” Filler said. “We expect to be in the hunt for the Colonial League playoffs.”

Palmerton: Coach Dave O’Brien lost the program’s best scorer in all-stater Brianna Moore (52 goals, 7 assists last year) to graduation, which is a huge loss. But there are other experienced players and talent on hand.

The Blue Bombers (18-4, 10-2) boast seniors Beth Morgan (midfield; 12 goals, 12 assists), Emma Martinez (forward; 7 goals, 11 assists), and Sam Perloni (defense). Junior Emma Snyder (goalie) and sophomores Ella Baumhardt (midfield; 11 goals, 12 assists), and Nataly Walters (11 goals, 7 assists) return.

“Even with the loss of Brianna,” O’Brien said, “this team should still be able to score and be productive on offense.”

Katelyn Bartholdi, Northern Lehigh: There were two freshmen scoring phenoms in the Colonial League a season ago and Bartholdi was one. The young Bulldog set the program’s freshman scoring record with 17 goals and 8 assists.

Naomi Glassberg, Northwestern Lehigh: An elite goalkeeper at the varsity level since her freshman year, Glassberg opted to commit to Cornell in the offseason. She will need to be better than ever with a less experienced backline.

Beth Morgan, Palmerton: The Blue Bombers lost 111 points from a season ago with the graduation of Brianna Moore. It’ll be up to the senior Morgan to pick up a lot of that slack. She was an excellent No. 2 option last year with 36 points.

Ava Riehl, Saucon Valley: Perhaps the league’s toughest pound-for-pound player (Riehl is a member of the Panthers’ state champion wrestling team), she exploded onto the scene with 23 goals and 6 assists as a freshman. Barring setbacks, a 100-goal career is possible.

Moravian Academy (19-4-1, 9-2-1) aims for a fifth consecutive District 11 Class A crown but coach Darien Vercillo’s Lions are no longer the preseason favorites.

Last year’s champs graduated eight starters, including four-year starter and all-stater Chloe Oudin. Senior Ellie Capobianco (midfield) and sophomores Angel Delurhey (forward) and Addison Etter (goalie) return.

“We’re in a rebuilding year,” Vercillo said. “We expect to still challenge for the district title.”

Palisades (6-10, 5-7) aims for improvement under third-year coach Timothy Houghton. His Pirates bring back the core of their defense from a season ago, led by seniors Mary Koch and Paige Casterline, both four-year starters, and Ellary Ryan. Junior forward Holly Pason is back as the team’s top goal-scorer.

Catasauqua (6-11-1, 3-8-1) is in rebuilding mode under second-year coach Kayla Cunningham, the former standout player at Whitehall. Senior Kaylee Weidaw, junior Kelsea Warren, and a strong class of sophomores are the Rough Riders’ core.

Pen Argyl (5-10-3, 0-9-3) welcomes a new coach, Lee Bakewell, this year. Bakewell inherits a nice nucleus of Green Knights in seniors Kayla Maggapinto (midfield) and Jill Morro (defense), junior Ellie Wallbillich (forward), and sophomore Louise Miller (midfield/forward).

Salisbury (3-12-2, 2-9-1) is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued season. Coach Rick Babyak’s young Falcons aim for improvement with senior goalie Hannah Kamp (427 career saves) back as the team leader.

Notre Dame-GP (5-10-1, 5-7) is under the direction of first-year coach Lauren Yost, whose Crusaders feature 10 seniors, including Addie Weidner (forward; 15 goals), and young talent in Kelsey Bedics (forward).

Bangor (8-9, 5-7) prepares for a postseason berth with new coach Jeannie Smith in charge of the Slaters’ program.

Wilson (1-16, 0-12) expects improvement with an upgraded roster, according to second-year coach Paul Stewart. The Warriors return their top scorer in senior Joci Smith.

Michael Blouse is a freelance writer.