What a way to start a varsity soccer career.

Two goals in as many minutes one tying Tuesday’s contest between Free State High and Shawnee Heights the second one the game-winner.

FREE STATE HIGH'S MICHELLE GARCIA (20) kicks the ball to a teammate. Garcia scored a goal in the Firebirds' 3-2 soccer loss to Shawnee Heights on Tuesday at FSHS.

So how did freshman Jessica Mainz feel about her varsity debut?

“Great,” Mainz said.

Unfortunately for the Firebirds, Mainz is a Thunderbird and her two late tap-in goals dashed Free State’s hopes for a season-opening victory as Heights escaped with a 3-2 victory at FSHS.

“We had plenty of opportunities in the first half to put the game away,” FSHS coach Jason Pendleton said. “I guess in a way I didn’t have them as prepared for certain situations as I should have.”

The Firebirds (0-1) were prepared in the first half. Free State scored two quick goals behind electric offensive attacks to gain a 2-0 advantage in the first 15 minutes.

The first score came off Michelle Garcia’s 35-yard high-arching shot that sailed into the top of the T-Birds’ net.

The second was a more conventional goal, as Katy Vormehr took Morgan Matthews’ assist on a one-on-one drive for the score.

“I was proud of our play offensively in the first half,” said Pendleton, whose Firebirds finished 9-8 last season, the best-ever finish for a city girls soccer team.

“We were moving to the ball and getting open shots.”

That changed in the second half when the Firebirds’ offense became stagnant. Shawnee Heights’ first goal came from Sarah Tetuan, who knocked in her own deflected shot past diving FSHS goalie Alicia Sellon.

The Firebirds attempted about half as many shots as they did in the first 40 minutes and a late red card only curbed that attack even more.

Matthews was carded on a tripping call near midfield with about 81*2 minutes left, leaving Pendleton dumbfounded.

Right after Matthews left the field, the T-Birds (2-0) turned up their offense by pushing the ball on every possession.

Free State dodged a couple close Shawnee Heights threats but couldn’t escape Mainz.

Mainz, who said she was nervous about her first start, didn’t show jitters when she provided her clutch goals.

With 2:58 remaining, the freshman booted in a ball that squirted out from underneath Sellon in the box.

A little more than a minute later in a near replay of her first goal, Mainz again wound up with the ball at her feet.

Sellon had secured a shot on goal but the ball was jarred loose when she fell on the ground, and Mainz tapped in home the winner.

“It’s a pretty good way to start I guess,” Mainz said shyly. “I’m really happy that I helped out.”