Soccer players are still working out the kinks

Scoring goals in soccer is hard. Manitou Springs coach Ben Mack likes to point out that the reason the top players in the world are paid so much money is because of their ability to put the balls into the net.

The one thing that this young Mustangs team is figuring out is just how hard scoring those goals are and how missing opportunities is changing the game’s dynamic. As a result, the Mustangs dropped two straight games, losing 5-0 to Faith Christian and 4-0 to defending Class 2A champion Crested Butte.

“We gotta have guys to step up,” Mack said. “That’s why I put a lot of pressure on my offensive guys in those games. We’ve been shut out in those games and those guys really are the veterans.”

After a two-game stretch when the Mustangs (2-2 overall) scored four goals, scoring has become more difficult. Although the team has plenty of returning talent, it’s still a relatively young squad.

Simply drawing on last year’s success isn’t enough. This team is learning how to get its scoring chances; it just has to add some focus on finishing and getting goals on the board.

“We have to put away those chances,” forward Sean Lowe said. “Especially since we likely won’t get as many chances this year as we did last year.”

The Mustangs are back in action on Thursday, Sept. 9, when they host STRIVE Prep. They have three more non-league games before they dive into Tri-Peaks League play.

The hope is that, by then, the kinks that the Mustangs experienced last week will be worked out and they’ll be playing a more polished game.

“We have to control the midfield,” Lowe said.

“We’ve been playing the long ball. For Faith Christian, the biggest thing in the first half was putting away chances. That comes from controlling the midfield.”