Despite outshooting the Mustangs of Meadowcreek 19 to 6 on Friday night, the Varsity Boys fell 2-1 in the contest, and 1-2 in Region play.
While the Lion performance was much better than Tuesday night against Collins Hill, its the shots that go in the goal that count. "We are capable of more, the guys have shown that all year," said Coach Ryan Sutton after the game. "We played better than Tuesday, but we did not play as a team. Our passes were not connecting early and the lack of energy on 50/50 chances cost us. We have got to put much more pressure on the ball - we can do much better."
Rather than their typical high pressure style of defending, the Lions seemed to give to much space to the Mustangs. Early in the season the Lions were tenacious on and off the ball, making runs and supporting each other all over the field. "To excel in Region 7 play, we have got to put pressure on the ball. Too often tonight we were reactive instead of proactive in our approach to the game. Maybe we were hung over from Tuesday's loss to Collins Hill, not sure. All I know is when we play together, posess the ball, and play the high pressure style of soccer we are capable of, we are as good as anybody and we are capable of beating any team out there. We need to get back to that place," commented Sutton.
The Lions went into the half trailing 1-0 as a result of one of only two shots on goal in the first half. On an awkward play that saw Meadowcreek break into the Lion end of the field from the right side of the field, a low driven ball careened off the post and bounded of Kupstas into the net after Kupstas had made a brilliant stop on the shot. Unlucky.
The Lions came out with a little more energy in the second half and began to take the shots necessary to even the score. But once again, it would be the Mustangs that tallied. "That goal woke us up," said Sutton. "We played the last fifteen minutes like we are capable of. Unselfish, high intensity, and focused."
With 12 minutes to go, Andres Rodriquez played a brilliant header off a Lion Corner Kick back out to the top of the box. Chris Cook was waiting and finished with precision hitting a low drive to the right of a diving Mustant keeper. The goal was too little too late, as the Lions turned up the intensity but could not find an equalizer.
The Lions take on the Mill Creek Hawks Tuesday night at Mill Creek stadium at 7:55PM, Be There!
Tag(s): Lions News
