The bending corner kick that Lenape's Devon Betsch sent sailing into the box in the 31st minute was a perfect snapshot of the previous three times the Lenape girls' soccer team played Washington Township this season.

The kick was aggressive, it was spot on, and it worked out perfectly in Lenape's favor.

Caroline Huelster was right there to head the ball into the net for her second goal of the game, and two-time defending state champion Lenape went on to beat Washington Township, 3-0, yesterday in the second round of the Group 4 state tournament.

The win was the fourth time this season the Indians topped the Minutemaids. Lenape won the four matches by a combined 12-3.

"I'm very pleased with how we played today," said Lenape coach Kevin Meder. "I thought our kids came out and played very hard. This time of year, the bottom line is just to come out and try to advance and that's what we did."

Betsch and Huelster netted Lenape's two goals in its 2-1 win over Washington Township in the South Jersey Coaches Tournament championship on Oct. 31.

Yesterday, Betsch assisted on both of Huelster's goals in the first half to help send the Indians cruising to a comfortable victory.

Betsch set up Huelster's first score in the 22d minute with a perfect cross from just beyond the 18-yard box. Huelster took possession of the ball right in front of the goal and snuck it into the bottom right corner of the net.

"We knew they were doing offsides traps and I just got the ball, made sure I was still onsides and I got it done," Huelster said of her first goal.

"The next one was a set piece that just worked out really well. I just headed it into the upper 90, I didn't even know it was going in and it did, so that worked out really well."

After building the early lead, the Indians had little trouble containing the Washington Township attack.

In her first game back since sustaining a bruised right kneecap on Oct. 29, Lenape goalkeeper Allison Johnson didn't have much work to do in a first half dominated by the Indians.

After Johnson was required to make only two saves in the first half, the Minutemaids were more aggressive in the second half, taking four shots on goal in the final 40 minutes.

The only goal in the second frame was scored when Lenape's Lizzey Duffey took control of a rebound in front of the net and drilled the ball past Washington Township goalkeeper Lauren Cicatiello.

"We've seen them three times before, so we knew we had to play some matchups," Meder said. "We knew we had to shut down Janine Valerio and Kim Krauss. And I thought our kids did a really nice job of shutting them down, and playing solid, team defense."

The Indians are now one step closer to a third consecutive state title.

"It's tough to compare this team to the other teams," Meder said. "It's similar in that we're very team oriented; the kids look out for each other. We go up as a unit and we come down as a unit. So in that sense, this team is very similar."

Lenape 2 1 - 3

Washington Township 0 0 - 0

Goals: L: Caroline Huelster (2), Lizzie Duffey

Saves: WT – Lauren Cicatiello 5. L – Allison Johnson 6.