IRWIN — Barely a minute in, Yough freshman Hannah Ponitz split the Knoch defense and rolled a shot toward the net.

The ball trickled less than two feet wide of the left post — and took the Cougars' shot at winning their first-round WPIAL Class AA girls soccer playoff game with it.

“That was probably our best chance to score all day ... and we needed to score first,” Yough coach Tim Dayton admitted.

They didn't score at all as the Knights went on to net four goals in the first half and cruise to a 5-0 victory Saturday afternoon at Norwin High School.

Knoch (16-1-2) didn't score its first goal until 24:38 remained in the first half. Junior midfielder Melissa Spreng lifted a pass past the outstretched arms of Yough goalkeeper Morgan Komarny. The ball arrived at the feet of sophomore midfielder Audra Hunter, who easily booted a shot behind the out-of-position netminder.

“We were controlling play for a while there,” Knoch senior midfielder Danielle Sharbaugh said. “Once we got that first one, we figured a few more would follow.

“You're able to settle down a bit once you get the lead.”

Sharbaugh scored twice in the first half — giving her 24 goals for the season. Her first goal was a line drive from 30 yards out that trickled off the hands of Komarny with 11:08 left in the half.

Younger sister Olivia Sharbaugh netted her 15th goal of the year, off a pass from Spreng, with 2:02 left in the half and Danielle Sharbaugh scored on a breakaway 45 seconds later.

“Melissa is so quick along the sidelines that she can beat defenders to the ball and make plays for us,” Knoch coach Steve Perri said. “We decide each game which side to put her on, based on where we think she can do the most damage.”

The Knights finished the game with a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal and with six corner kicks. Yough (11-8-1) did not register a corner kick all day.

“Giving up two goals in the final couple of minutes really hurt,” Dayton said. “Down 2-0, you still have a fighting chance. Down by four is a little too much.

“Once you fall behind by four goals or so, you can see the heads start to drop and some of the effort goes away.”

Yough had six freshmen in its starting lineup.

“We've been there,” Perri said. “We started four freshmen last year.”

One of them, sophomore midfielder Gabbi Lassinger, closed the scoring with her 13th goal of the year. She headed in a corner kick by Olivia Sharbaugh with 21:15 remaining.

“I told the girls that, at least for the first couple of rounds, the only team that could beat us was ourselves,” Perri said. “If we play well, we'll get through this.”

Knoch faces Elizabeth Forward (11-7-1) — a 1-0 winner over Southmoreland — in the second round at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The site has not been determined.

The Knights have outscored their opposition 94-15 this season. Saturday marked their 10th shutout of the year.