Fueled by five goals from senior newcomer Zak Fox last week, the Huskies picked up their first league win 4-0 at Sutherlin but lost 5-1 to eighth-ranked Cottage Grove in boys soccer.
The Huskies have struggled with winless Sutherlin for years, Stutzer said.
Last year Sweet Home gave the Bulldogs their only tie in league, and the Huskies struggled early Sept. 26 on the road.
“I think we were a little lacking putting things together,” said Coach Eric Stutzer. The Huskies played extremely well out of the back, the best of the season; but across the field, communication was lacking, and the Huskies were holding on a little too long before shooting it.
“They were holding on a little bit too long on the defensive side,” Stutzer said.
The score was tied 0-0 at halftime.
They made adjustments at halftime, and Stutzer put in Fox, who came out for soccer the day before. He hadn’t played since junior high, concentrating primarily on wrestling.
Fox scored his first goal 10 minutes into the game, Stutzer said, then two minutes later. Within the next 15 minutes, he scored two more times.
“Then I had to pull him out of the game,” Stutzer said, and subbed in younger players.
“The kids were jazzed being able to hold them defensively,” Stutzer said, and for once, they didn’t feel like they were in a nail-biter of a game.
The Huskies took 25 shots on goal against Sutherlin. The Bulldogs had about 10 scoring attempts, and Rowland Lupoli had a couple of high-quality saves.
Overall, Stutzer said he would like to have seen a little faster pace of play against Sutherlin.
Senior Noah Webb remained sidelined with an injury during the Sutherlin game.
Everyone was back on Thursday when the Huskies hosted Cottage Grove. Webb played in the second half.
They’re not all at 100 percent, Stutzer said, but with a bye this week on Tuesday, he’s hoping his team will be at full power Thursday.
Facing Cottage Grove, “the first half, they played really well,” Stutzer said. “They were aggressive to the ball, more intensity, better communication. Rowland had a monster double save in the first half.”
An offside call 20 minutes into the game cost the Huskies Cottage Grove’s first goal, Stutzer said. The Lions scored their next off a weird deflection. Sweet Home had pushed the ball away from the goal and it ricocheted off a Cottage Grove player into the net. Lupoli couldn’t do anything about it.
Intensity levels dropped, but the Huskies kept their passing game going, Stutzer said. Fox broke away and scored with less than two minutes left in the half.
“I think it was the best soccer we’ve played all season,” Stutzer said. Things fell apart in the second half. Communication levels dropped. The game was a lot more physical, and the Huskies were frustrated.
Cottage Grove was called for 29 fouls, Stutzer said. Sweet Home had 22 fouls.
Cottage Grove took advantage of the Huskies’ frustration and scored three more times in the second half.
“Eric Blanchard did a really good job in midfield,” Stutzer said, and Noah Dinsfriend and Owen Towry both played very well.
Cottage Grove is a team the Huskies can play with, Stutzer said. Get frustrated against a team like Cottage Grove, “you’re going to get scored on. The score didn’t need to be that high.”
The Huskies will host Elmira at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Junction City at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 10. They tied both teams 1-1 on the road this season.
“We’re getting better every time we go out,” Stutzer said. “If the team can come together and believe in themselves, then we can come out all right this season.”
If they can get wins against Elmira and Junction City, the Huskies will remain in the hunt for post-season play.
The question is “are we going to play as a team or lose as individuals?” Stutzer said.
The Huskies are 1-2-2 and fourth place in league ahead of Junction City 1-3-1 and behind Elmira 2-2-1. Cottage Grove, now ranked ninth in the state with a 5-0 record in league, is in first place in the Sky-Em. Sisters is 4-1 and in second. Sutherlin is in last with an 0-5 record.