It has been a tough week for the Northwestern Lehigh boys soccer team.

A potential game-winning shot hit off the crossbar Tuesday afternoon against Saucon Valley. The Panthers took possession, got the ball immediately down the field and put away a shot at the other end for a 1-0 overtime win on their home field.

It was the second consecutive league loss and the third defeat in the last four games for Northwestern (4-3 overall, 2-2 Colonial League). Following three straight wins to open the season, the Tigers dropped contests to Wilson, Hamburg and the Panthers (4-2, 4-0).

The two teams went back-and-forth the entire 80 minutes of regulation Tuesday without breaking onto the scoreboard. Then it was looking like the full 10 minutes of overtime would elapse without a tally, but a quick sequence of events changed that.

Northwestern midfielder Josh Zellner lobbed a shot toward the far post that clanged off the cross bar. Saucon Valley took the ball the other way and wound up scoring the game-winner on a low shot by Zach Nicholas.

“I thought we had a good build up,” said head coach Nate Hunsicker. “Josh Zellner, who is a freshmen in a big role, had a great shot and did an incredible job today. He had the keeper beat and it was just a matter of inches the other way and we come out of there with a win. But credit to them, they were quick to counter and the kid had a nice shot to finish.”

Nicholas used his size and speed to his advantage to cause the Tigers defense fits all game. He led his team in shots and chances on net.

“He was a big, physical presence,” Hunsicker said. “We’re not, per se, the most athletic team in the back, and we changed our formation to help alleviate pressure back there. I thought they did a pretty good job though for the most part all game. Most of their chances were because of our mistakes or sloppy passes.”

Northwestern has been accustomed to taking care of business in the Colonial League without dropping points of late, this season has been an adjustment.

“With dropping one to Wilson before this too and having to play Southern Lehigh and Moravian [Academy] still, we need to play better,” said Hunsicker. “It’s probably a good thing the district tournament is six teams this year instead of four because there are so many good teams in [Class] 3A.

“We have some heavy lifting the rest of the way. It’s now a year where we can’t drop the games we should be able to win. But we need to take it one game at a time now.”

Northwestern will finish the week with two games, home against Bangor Thursday and at Faith Christian Friday.