The Husky varsity boys soccer team toppled Elmira 3-2 Friday following two losses earlier in the week.
At Seaside on Tuesday, “we came out flat,” Coach Al Grove said. Seaside built a 4-0 lead in the first half, but the Huskies played better in the second half the game holding the loss to 6-0.
“They (Seaside) played very well,” Grove said. “They probably played as good as they can play.”
The Huskies played a more even contest hosting Scappoose on Thursday, losing 2-0.
Scappoose scored two goals in the first half of play, Grove said, but the Huskies took just as many shots but were unable to score.
“Friday, we finally found the back of the net at Elmira,” Grove said. “We controlled the game. The play was much more dominating.”
Blake Roberts, Alex Santana and Matt Grove all scored a goal in the game.
The Huskies led 2-1 at halftime, and both teams managed to find the goal one more time in the second.
The Huskies outshot their opponents in that game, Grove said, but Elmira has “a very good goalie. We had a lot of shots that we were making that would’ve gone in.”
Dakota Snow played goalie in the last two games of the week, Grove said. He and the defenders, especially Andrew Winslow and Chris Farris, played well.
The team is getting scoring from across the board, Grove said, and showing a team effort.
“That’s how we’ll do well is utilizing that strength,” he said.
The Huskies start league play at Newport on Thursday. As they head into league, Grove said, “we just need to be communicating again.”
The Huskies can play with Newport, but they’ve got to keep playing even when the ball isn’t going their way, like the last two games of the week, he said. Much of the Huskies’ challenge is the mental game when the chips are down.
Against Scappoose and Elmira, “we didn’t quit,” he said. The team cannot quit when someone scores or the ball doesn’t go in.
“We’re playing more consistent,” Grove said. “We’ve got the skills. We can put it together.”
Tuesday, the Huskies will face a more intimidating foe, Central at home, which hasn’t lost a game and is ranked number three in the state.