The boys soccer team’s inexperience caught up with the Huskies in two losses last week, 9-0 to Central and 10-2 to Taft.
Against Central on Tuesday, Sept. 11, Sweet Home started aggressively but lost some steam after the Panthers scored, Coach Ryan Regrutto said.
Central led 4-0 at halftime and although the Huskies renewed their efforts as the second half began, it wasn’t enough to get on the scoreboard.
“This year we have a lot of kids who are new to the game,” Regrutto said.
“They have to play against kids who have been playing for years – seven or eight years longer than they have. We have to be technical enough to compete. We try to stay competitive.”
He said the Huskies’ inexperience in goal also has resulted in some inflated scores for the opposition.
Against Taft, Sweet Home scored its first two goals of the season as senior Justin Webb took a penalty kick opportunity and put a “picture perfect” shot into the lower corner of the goal in the first half.
“It was unstoppable,” Regrutto said.
In the second half, freshman Nick Rogers picked up the ball in midfield and dribbled down the sideline, then took a shot from about 20 yards out into the corner of the goal to score.
“Those were good goals, exciting,” he said. “We have a good group of freshmen who have played AYSO. For me it’s inspiring and uplifting that we have good junior high teams now. I see good things on the horizon.”
The JV boys soccer team finished with a 1-1 against West Albany’s freshman team after a come-from-behind goal to tie late in the contest. The Huskies had no substitutes and were down 1-0 most of the match, before a late goal for the tie. Sweet Home scored an apparent second goal in the last few minutes of the game but it was called back.