Coronado Heights’ girls soccer team traveled eight hours to Lawrence from Colorado Springs, Colo., but it needed just more than a minute Saturday to defeat Free State High.

Amy Anderson’s goal at 1:23 into the game at Free State gave Coronado a 1-0 victory and put an end to the Firebirds’ best-ever start.

“Who knows what would have happened if we would have played for 80 minutes like we did the last 40,” said Free State coach Jason Pendleton, whose team fell to 3-1.

“During the first half, we just lacked that fire that we had in the previous games.”

After a foul, Anderson took a restart and booted a 35-yard shot that sailed over Free State goalie Alicia Sellon’s head and into the left corner of the goal.

“That was just an incredibly well-kicked ball,” Sellon said. “There’s nothing you can do about those shots.”

Free State High's Emily Erb, left, is blocked by a Coronado Heights (Colo.) player. The Firebirds lost their first game of the season, 1-0, Saturday at Free State.

Free State followed that firework with defense, allowing Coronado seven shots on goal.

The Firebirds finished with six, but an all-out offensive push late in the game couldn’t put Free State on the scoreboard.

“We really battled back, but they were always able to clear it out,” Pendleton said.

The contest marked the third game in three days for Coronado, which played in Manhattan and Topeka after arriving Wednesday.

Free State and Coronado are connected by Katie Deitemeyer, a former Firebirds assistant coach. Her father is Jim Deitemeyer, Coronado’s coach.

Pendleton said his girls wanted to keep their streak going, but “they will have to understand the intensity it takes for a full game.”

“We wanted to be 4-0, but now we”ll have to bounce back,” he said.

The Firebirds travel Monday to Olathe South.