Facing two of the state’s best 4A Division soccer teams back-to-back, Sweet Home’s boys fell 8-0 to No. 5 Newport/Waldport on Sept. 30 and to No. 9 North Marion by the same score Thursday.
The Huskies played aggressively, but they made too many mental errors against a team that didn’t make many, Coach Eric Stutzer said.
“I really believe we are playing better, but the difference right now lies in our decision making,” he said. “We have to minimize the mental errors that are costing us goals.”
Newport jumped out to an early 4-0 lead during the first 20 minutes of play.
“Once we settled in, we competed until late in the second half where we gave up a handful of goals on consecutive errors,” he said.
North Marion was a similar story, Stutzer said.
“After giving up some early goals on errors, we played fairly well until we had to make some personnel changes late in the second half.”
The visitors were able to capitalize on the Huskies’ losing some “key players,” he said and Sweet Home’s mental errors and inexperience.
“We played our hearts out, but we gave up some easy goals right at the end that made the score look a whole lot worse than how we actually played,” he said, noting that his players have faced three top-nine teams in consecutive games.
“Every game we play is essentially like playing in a playoff match. These teams are talented and, unfortunately, that leaves no margin for mental errors.
Up next is No. 1 Stayton on Tuesday, Oct. 7, followed by a trip to Cascade on Thursday, Oct. 9. That game will start at 5 p.m. The Cougars were 0-3 in Oregon West Conference play, 3-4 overall, coming into this week.
“We will continue to work on our pace of play and capitalizing in the attacking third, but our main focus this week will be minimizing those mental errors,” Stutzer said.
