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For South Western, it seems like a long time ago when the boys soccer season started amid high expectations.
Now, all the Mustangs would fancy is a win.
After another disappointing showing on Thursday, this time a 4-1 loss to Dallastown at The Mustang Corral, the season almost seems like its on the brink of implosion, playoffs a definite afterthought.
If the Mustangs (3-8-0, 2-5-0 Division I) have any hope of reaching the District 3 Class AAA playoffs, not only would their play have to improve drastically, but several other things would have to fall in place - like Red Lion and Dallastown falling off the map.
At least based on what the Wildcats showed Thursday, that seems unlikely.
"We just have to win a game," South Western head coach Clayton Wilcox said. "Playoffs are the dream goal. But we'll need to have a lot of luck to make that happen."
Dallastown (6-2-0) scored its first goal in the 21st minute when Derek Landis smothered a right-footed volley into the back of the net. The lead doubled 16 minutes later when Joe Bagnell slipped away from the onrushing Mustang keeper, senior Zak Kruger, and poked the ball through.
It was that kind of evening for the Mustangs. Defensive lapses contributed on all but one goal.
Mustang senior keeper Zak Kruger made two brilliant saves to pull back goals for Dallastown - he was one of South Western's lone bright spots - but he wasn't perfect.
Already facing a 3-0 deficit, Kruger
Mike Murray offered a floating strike from about 25 yards out that looked more like a chip then a shot. The ball lofted over Kruger's outstretched arms and found the back of the net.
"To score four goals against someone whose been in the goal for three years on the varsity level, that's a positive thing," Dallastown coach Mitch Groh said said.
On the other end of the spectrum, Wilcox had plenty to say about Dallastown.
"They're much faster than we are," he said. "They anticipate much better. They have a better first touch. They move the ball better and they played better as a team."
The Wildcats' chemistry was evident all game. They controlled possession for the majority of the match, made quick decisions with the ball and limited mistakes.
South Western showed its potential in spurts. That fact wasn't more evident then on their only goal, which happened, literally, in a matter of seconds.
After Kruger secured a ball in his box in the 61st minute, he lined an angled punt on the left side of the field that hit an in-stride Ryan Blum. Blum continued down the left flank a couple more strides before he struck a left-footed cross across the box.
The ball dipped over the Wildcats keeper before Greg Hess' sliding right-foot placed it into the back of the net.
Just like that.
"We showed a few moments of fight, but we didn't play consistent," Wilcox said. "And this year, that's been our story. We're not playing consistent, we're not playing together and we're not playing good soccer. We haven't all year."
Contact Cory Mull at cmull@eveningsun.com.
