Coaches constantly tell their teams to focus and finish.

The Free State High boys soccer team had the finish part down after shutting out Junction City, 4-0, Saturday. The Firebirds just couldn’t start.

“We came in the game and we weren’t connecting,” Free State forward Alex Clayton said.

Free State also wasn’t as quick to the ball as Firebirds coach Jason Pendleton would have liked, taking two or three extra touches instead of passing the ball to an open player.

“We weren’t in it mentally in the first half,” Firebirds forward Dustin Nye said. “We had to play soccer instead of just banging the ball around.”

Free State (6-0-1) played well enough to take a 2-0 lead into the break. Nye broke the scoreless tie in the 28th minute, scoring on an assist from K.J. Siebert.

The Firebirds tacked on another score when Clayton received a pass from Reed Starks and motored around the defense to score from close range.

When the second half began, so did Free State’s execution — particularly in the passing game.

“With some clear directions at halftime, they were able to get things solved,” Pendleton said.

Four minutes in the half, Firebirds midfielder Jeff Stebbins sent a crisp pass from the corner to Siebert, who rocketed the ball into the net.

“That’s exactly the way we drew it up,” Pendleton said. “Those opportunities will be there every game if you execute.”

Nye scored his second goal again by being in the right place. Clayton shot the ball from the corner, it bounced off Junction City goalkeeper John Lytle, and Nye booted it in.

“The quality of the goals… they were a result from the things we were trying to do tactically,” Pendleton said.

Free State will play Tuesday at Topeka High.