With numbers like that, opposing teams likely focus on the Wolverines’ offense when trying to develop a game plan to beat them.

It turns out head coach Neil Huber’s team’s strength just might be its defense.

A goal in the fifth minute gave Westfield/Brocton the only lead it would need as senior Laura Johnston and her teammates on the back end stifled Frewsburg en route to a 1-0 shutout in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Central Division action Thursday at the Robert H. Jackson Sports Complex.

“That was a great game. … At the end of their game they were pushing,” Huber said. “One of the strengths of my team is my keeper and my defense. They just played lights-out.”

Frewsburg’s Madison Caflisch attempts to turn away from Westfield/Brocton’s Jamie Black during Thursday’s CCAA Central Division matchup at the Robert H. Jackson Sports Complex in Frewsburg.

With the victory, the Wolverines — No. 11 in Class C according to this week’s New York State Sportswriters Association rankings — moved to 9-0-0 on the season, including 6-0-0 in the league.

“This is really the first time that Westfield has been able to do something like this in a long time,” Huber added.

The loss dropped the Bears — honorable mention in Class C — to 5-2-1 overall, including 3-1-1 in the Central Division.

“The second half was way better. We got way more chances and we just calmed down,” Frewsburg head coach Scott Stone said. “Once we settled down, it was way better. We’re still confident moving forward.”

Westfield/Brocton got all the offense it would need in the fifth minute, and Bodenmiller or Barresi did not even factor in the play. Freshman Haleigh Dellow carried the ball through the midfield before sending a pass toward the 18-yard box. There, junior Juli Smith made one touch to get the ball around hard-charging Frewsburg goalkeeper Madison Voty before depositing a rocket of a shot to the back of the net.

Westfield/Brocton’s Makena Barresi challenges Frewsburg’s Ava Hultberg (22) during Thursday’s game.

“It changed the momentum,” Huber said of the early goal. “We were confident, but with a game of this magnitude, we were a little nervous. Getting that goal took a lot of pressure off.”

“Our defense is pretty good. We rely on our defense heavily and I thought they played great today,” Stone said. “It was a great ball to Juli and she obviously made a great play.”

The Wolverines carried play for much of the remainder of the first half, but they relied on their defense for the second 40 minutes.

Junior Heather Johnston, freshman Makartnee Mortimer, senior Mary Conklin and Heather Johnston were more than up for the challenge.

“Laura is a three-year starter at sweeper. They work well together,” Huber said. ” … We returned everybody from last year and that makes a huge difference.”

Keeping the ball away from the 18-yard box for a majority of the game, they didn’t allow Frewsburg to test junior goalkeeper Angel Busch often.

When the Bears finally did, Busch saved the day.

In the 65th minute, Frewsburg freshman Jacey Cappa broke in toward the goal before colliding with an aggressively challenging Busch. The ball rolled free toward the side of the goal, but freshman Ashlyn Samuelson’s attempt rang off the goal post.

Twenty minutes later, Westfield/Brocton nearly put the game away as Voty ran all the way to the top corner of the 18-yard box to try and cover a loose ball. She was late, but the Wolverines’ shot at the open net was turned aside at the last second by a sliding attempt from senior Rachel Annis.

The Bears used that momentum — and the desperation of five minutes being left in the game — to nearly tie the game in the 87th minute as they were awarded a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Alex Hultberg sent a shot to the top corner of the goal, but Busch made her best save of the day, leaping to punch the ball out of bounds.

“From where I was standing I thought it was good,” Stone said. ” … She was about 1 inch away from tucking it in. What a save by Angel.”

“Angel making that save right at the end there, I can’t emphasize enough how much that means,” Huber said. ” … She came through when we needed her to.”

On the ensuing corner kick, Busch was again called upon, and she came through by punching the ball to safety before Frewsburg was able to connect.

“You have to score to win, and we didn’t score,” Stone said. ” … We definitely had some chances, we just have to figure out a way to put it in the back of the net.”

Now Westfield/Brocton will look to continue its perfect season as it navigates the second trip through the league schedule.

“They play humble. … They keep themselves grounded,” Huber said of his team. “We talk a lot about mentally not looking past a team and playing our level of soccer.”

Frewsburg still has a date at Pine Valley on Saturday to complete its first time through the Central Division, but likely will circle its Oct. 15 trip to Westfield in an attempt to knock off the Wolverines.

“They’ve been circled since the beginning because they beat us at home last year,” Stone said. “It’s a deep league and we truly respect everybody … but we’re definitely looking forward to going back up there and playing them again.”