A victory Tuesday would have done wonders for a young and weary Free State High girls soccer team.

Instead, the Firebirds couldn’t capitalize when the gusty winds were behind them, wrecking another effort in a 1-0 loss to Shawnee Mission East at FSHS.

“It’s pretty demoralizing,” said Free State sophomore goalie Megan Hrenchir, who couldn’t stop the lone goal, a long Lancer kick in the final five minutes. “It’s just difficult, because we played pretty well overall. And it looked like we were going to keep playing into overtime, and then they win it the way they did.”

But Free State coach Jason Pendleton said the only goal was a byproduct of SM East using the wind advantage, compared to the Firebirds’ “lack of effort and energy” when they had the gusting wind behind them in the first half.

“There’s no question that we’re a much improved team from even last week, but it seems like we’re reverting a bit to the lack of poise we showed early on in the year,” said Pendleton, whose squad fell to 1-5-1. “You can’t do that at critical times against quality opponents.”

While the Lancers easily controlled the offense — shooting 10 times on goal compared to only a couple of kicks by Free State — the wind was the game’s biggest weapon.

“When you have that kind of wind, you’re going to get a lot of those shots from out in front of the goal,” Pendleton said of SM East forward Emily Holst’s goal, which came on a 20-yard crossing shot over Hrenchir’s head with about four minutes left.

“In the first half when we had the wind, we lacked the intensity and mental focus that we needed. We certainly didn’t play with a sense of urgency considering the 25-mph wind that was behind us.

“In the long run, I think that was the difference in the game — that we didn’t recognize that we needed to take advantage of the wind when we have it, because in all likelihood the other team will.”

Pendleton — who will miss his team’s next two games because his wife, Jodi, will be induced into labor later this week to deliver the couple’s second child — joked that perhaps his absence could prove to be a turning point.

“Maybe a little change of blood will do this team some good,” said a smiling Pendleton, who will pass the whistle to assistant coaches Chuck Law and Lauren Williams.

“If those guys can get them to win the next two, I will gladly resign.”

Free State will play host to Olathe South at 4 p.m. Thursday at FSHS.