Out of the 24 teams playing the Lehigh Valley Summer Soccer League across both groups, Northwestern was one of the final two teams standing. And if not for a penalty-kick goal, the Tigers, known as New Triploli Bank FC in the summer league, might have been the squad that ended July hoisting the trophy.

Instead, Hornets Gold (Emmaus) defeated New Tripoli Bank on Wednesday, July 26, for the LVSSL championship. A penalty kick was the deciding factor for the Tigers, who lost just two games all summer.

“It was a really good game,” Hunsicker said. “Either team deserved to win. It’s unfortunate to lose on a penalty kick, but that is soccer. We had plenty of chances before that goal happened to take the lead, but we just couldn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”

After dominating the regular season by going 10-1, while scoring 29 goals and allowing just eight, Northwestern did much of the same in the postseason. The Tigers’ defense headlined a 2-1 defeat over Saucon Valley in the quarterfinals, although Hunsicker admitted his team didn’t play its best, and then shut out Liberty (1-0) in the semifinals.

The victory over Liberty, the only team to beat Northwestern in the regular season, set up a championship match against Emmaus. The Hornets entered as the No. 3 seed out of Group B, the tougher of the two divisions. Liberty was the second seed.

“We played well. We played good enough to win [against Emmaus],” Hunsicker said. “Against Saucon Valley we didn’t play well at all. We couldn’t find any rhythm, but we survived and advanced.

“We played really well against a tough Liberty team. We played really solid defense and were able to maintain possession for most of that game.”

Northwestern graduated a big chunk of its defense from last year, including Lehigh commit Jonathan Blaine and four-year starting goal keeper Kyle Belhorn. But the Tigers’ eight goals allowed this summer in the regular season was second best-only behind Central Catholic’s six-across both groups. Only four of the 24 teams had allowed less than 10 goals scored.

Offensively, Hunsicker anticipates the Tigers not to miss a beat as they return plenty of its scoring production from 2016. Included in those returnees are: Kenny Gawelko, Sam Seyfriend and Noah Meyers.

It’s a mix of players on both ends that Hunsicker, once again, anticipates will shock some people around the area.

“That we’re not taking a step back this year, and anyone writing us off because of whom we graduated is in for a surprise,” Hunsicker said of what he learned of his team this summer. “I’m really excited to get going with this group of kids. They’re hungry for success and to write their own history.

“We have a lot of new faces in new places, but these guys really worked hard and played well together.”