Free State High hadn’t given up more than two goals in a single match all season and had yet to lose to a Sunflower League foe.

The Firebirds soccer team did both in a 4-1 loss to Olathe East on Thursday at Free State.

“They’re so fast and athletic, if you can’t execute basic moves you’re going to be in big trouble,” Free State coach Jason Pendleton said.

FSHS freshman Greg Glatz scored 15 minutes into the first half, but there were few scoring opportunities for the Firebirds (9-2-1 overall, 5-1-1 league) the rest of the way. Free State struggled with its passing and could not keep the Hawks (11-3, 9-0) off Free State’s end of the field.

“For the first 15 minutes, I thought we were right there with them,” Pendleton said. “When they scored, we seemed to lose belief that we could compete with them. They seemed to become more athletic and aggressive from that point on.”

Five minutes after Glatz’s goal, Olathe East tied it when Chris Tumberger scored with an assist from Kyle Boehm.

Jacob McMahon gave the Hawks the lead 2:40 before halftime off an assist from Adam Tayani, and Tayani fed McMahon on another goal early in the second half.

Tayani wasn’t done, putting the ball past FSHS goalkeeper Aaron Williams 15 minutes into the half.

Free State allowed twice as many goals as it had in any game this season, but Pendleton didn’t put any of the blame on Williams.

“I think Aaron has been phenomenal,” Pendleton said. “They were quality goals. He doesn’t give up any cheap ones. If he keeps playing the way he has, we’ll have a chance. But we have to help him out.”

The Firebirds didn’t do that. East put in its backup goalkeeper with nearly 20 minutes remaining. Free State’s offense — which had the wind at its back in the second half — still couldn’t put the ball in the net, and the defense failed to take pressure off its keeper.

“We struggled defensively one-on-one,” Free State midfielder Aaron Ideus said. “They were really fast in the middle, and they dribbled right past us. We couldn’t stay with them.”

Ideus said Free State learned a valuable lesson with less than two weeks left before regionals.

“We can’t get too close when people are faster than us,” he said. “You have to contain them and not let them get by.”

Free State begins a rugged stretch of games today against Olathe South at College Boulevard Athletic Complex.

“We’ve had a lot of success,” Pendleton said. “That’s the first time we’ve really been punched in the nose. We play four games in the next seven days. We’ll find out a lot about this team.”