After Elmira scored its game-winning goal in the first 15 minutes, the Husky boys soccer team held its host scoreless the rest of the game but couldn’t come up with a goal of its own to catch Elmira.
“We’re competing better,” Coach Louis Dix said. “It was a tough loss. The kids knew we were in the game.”
Several soccer players competed through their injuries Friday, Coach Dix said, but the team wasn’t at 100 percent.
Elmira scored on a goal from a German exchange student, Coach Dix said. He was a fast club ball player.
“He broke past our defensive line,” Coach Dix said. “He was extremely fast.”
When he took his shot on goal, he faced only the goalie.
After that, the Huskies played about 5 yards off of him and stayed between him and the goal to shut down his game.
The Huskies had 13 shots on goal, none strong, Coach Dix said. That’s an area where the Huskies have been working in recent weeks. Elmira shot the ball about 22 times.
“It’s just a matter of us getting us a few breaks,” Coach Dix said.
Coach Dix praised the defensive effort in the game.
“On defense, Heath Belknap did an outstanding job,” Coach Dix said. Mauro Angulo did a great job flipping from midfield to defense with Belknap.
“He just works hard, hustling to the ball,” Coach Dix said.
The Huskies are focusing their efforts on effective passing and taking good, hard shots on goal, Coach Dix said.
On Sept. 23, the Huskies lost 4-0 to Cottage Grove, a top-10 team statewide.
On Monday, they were scheduled to host defending 3A state champion Junction City with the returning state player of the year.
“Our strategy tonight is to go out, play and have fun,” Coach Dix said. Junction City is a quality, challenging team.
Results of the contest were unavailable at press time.
The junior varsity lost 5-0 to Cottage Grove and did not play against Elmira.