For 40 minutes, it was a chess match — technical, tense, and evenly played. But once Baldwin made its move, there was no counter from Germantown Friends.

Powered by a second-half hat trick from junior co-captain Makena Lee and a tactical shift that unlocked their dynamic attack, the Baldwin School Polar Bears stormed past the Germantown Friends School Tigers, 4-1, on Tuesday afternoon to improve to 4-0 on the season.

“This group is learning so quickly,” Baldwin head coach Adrian Cox said postgame. “It’s exciting to see them apply adjustments in real time. That second half was some of the best soccer we’ve played.”

The scoreline may not reflect it, but the opening half was a grind. Both sides showed flashes of danger — Baldwin with its quick-passing combinations through midfield, GFS with patient buildup and strength in central defense. But it took a moment of ingenuity from a freshman off the bench to break it open.

Enter Scarlett Rushing.

With the match scoreless in the 34th minute, Rushing’s relentless pressure forced a turnover deep in GFS territory. After shielding two defenders in the corner, she calmly laid the ball back to fellow freshman Elise Skawinski, who lofted a perfectly weighted cross to the back post. Lee, always alert in the box, met it with a left-footed volley that kissed the far corner.

“It’s not often you see that kind of composure from freshmen,” Cox said. “Scarlett and Elise set the tone with that play.”

But Baldwin’s 1-0 lead evaporated just three minutes later. GFS pounced on a lapse down Baldwin’s right side, swinging a cross into the box that forced a sharp save from junior keeper Anaka Boyd-Volz. The rebound fell kindly to a Tigers attacker, who buried it to level the match.

Halftime came with the score tied and momentum in the balance. That didn’t last long.

With subtle but impactful tweaks to their shape and pressure triggers, Baldwin came out of the break looking like a team transformed. The midfield trio of Rushing, freshman Ally Walker, and sophomore Sierra Gilbert took command, winning challenges, controlling tempo, and launching wave after wave of attack.

Lee reaped the rewards.

Her second goal came early in the half on a slick through ball from Gilbert, splitting the GFS back line and sending Lee in alone. She slotted the finish coolly. Moments later, freshman forward Claire Hsia weaved through traffic before unselfishly squaring a ball across the box for Lee to tap home her third. The hat trick was complete, and so was the statement: Baldwin had flipped the game.

“Makena is just a nightmare to defend when she finds space,” Cox said. “But what I love most is how her teammates are growing into their roles and giving her the service she needs.”

Hsia would add a second assist later in the half, again feeding Lee on a sharp diagonal run. Lee's shot rifled low and hard into the corner — her fourth goal of the day.

Behind the attack, Baldwin’s back four locked things down. Freshman Zoey Schaubel and sophomore Annie Reed were steady and decisive, while junior Kyla Walker — Lee’s co-captain — anchored the line with poise. Freshman Mia Wendler was proactive and composed, stepping into challenges and keeping GFS from threatening in the final third.

When needed, Boyd-Volz stood tall. The junior keeper made several key stops and was efficient with her feet, relieving pressure with smart distribution. Her long punts and clearances flipped the field and helped stretch GFS as they chased the game.

The Bears outshot the Tigers 13-6 and didn’t concede a shot on target in the final 30 minutes.

With the win, Baldwin has now scored 13 goals in four matches while allowing just one. The program — which features a staggering 10 underclassmen in regular rotation — has begun to blend youthful talent with mature decision-making.

Next up is a quick turnaround: a home non-league clash with Abraham Lincoln High School on Wednesday.

Still, Cox knows the real tests are coming.

“The Inter-Ac is a different animal,” he said. “It’s physical, it’s fast, and it’s relentless. But this team has the mentality, and the hunger, to rise to it. We’re building something here — piece by piece.”