Mark Allinson expected an evenly-matched game in last week’s Colonial League boys soccer championship game against Northwestern.

The teams played to a 1-1 tie in their only regular season meeting, and the playoff game was not much different. The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation. But this time it ended in the second overtime period when Northwestern’s Noah Meyers scored the game winning goal with 9:57 on the clock.

Meyers shouldered the game-winning goal to the back of the net to lift Northwestern to a 2-1 victory over Salisbury.

“We knew it was going to be a game,” Allinson said. “Up to this point, we saw them already and it was a 1-1 tie. We were evenly matched, but they got the best of us in terms of shots on net.

“I think our kids fought through it though. It certainly puts us in a position with a chance to win it. So, a lot of the credit goes to the boys for that.”

At first, it looked as if the Falcons were in excellent position to win it as they were the ones to strike first.

With 30:11 left in the opening half, it was two Colonial League First Team All-Stars that hooked up to beat another First Team All-Star for the game’s first goal.

The Falcons’ Ethan Heydt found Patrick Adams on a break-away. Heydt sent a perfect cross to him and Adams took it along the right side. Adams took in the feed and sent a shot toward the back left side of the net, which ended up beating the Tigers’ keeper Kyle Bellhorn.

Over 40 minutes of play later, Northwestern knotted the score.

With 29:57 left in the second half, the Tigers’ Ken Gawelko headed the ball past Falcon keeper Tyler Keller for a score.

“We know Northwestern and they’re not the type of team that’s going to lay down,” Allinson said. “They got after it and they were able to get an equalizer. But, we held them tight.

“We held them tight through the overtimes as we were trying to push balls through. Unfortunately, they were the first ones to do it.”

The Falcons will put this heart-breaking setback behind them and focus on what lies ahead.

With a realignment of the district classifications they don’t have to worry about Northwestern anymore this year. The Tigers move on to Class 3A in district while the Falcons will play in Class 2A. Both are top seeds in their bracket.

Salisbury opened district play Tuesday against Nativity of Pottsville. That game was played after Press deadline.

“I’m hoping that we’ll be able to bounce back from this loss and get to where we need to be,” Allinson said. “We’re just going to take one game at a time. Obviously, looking down the road Palisades is going to be a tough match for us and the way it is set up it would be in a final if either one of us got there.

“But, on any given day, anybody could play the spoiler and we have to get at it Tuesday.”

And, on a positive note, things looks good for the Falcons as they have met and beaten four of the seven teams in the Class 2A field. They scored victories against Palisades (1-0), Pine Grove (5-1), Notre Dame (2-0) and Palmerton (8-0) this season.