She looked like trouble.

All morning long, Topeka Hayden sophomore forward Abi Dodds snaked through the defensive front of the Free State High girls soccer team. Then, in the 97th minute, she rocketed a shot to the upper portion of Free State’s net to cap off a frustrating game for the Firebirds — a 1-0 loss to the Wildcats in double overtime at Free State.

“We backed in a little too much,” FSHS freshman forward Alexa Moreno said.

The Firebirds backed in so much that Dodds had a couple of moments to gather herself and get off the shot despite to FSHS defenders near the vicinity.

For Free State, it was the fifth game this season that went to overtime. The loss made the Firebirds 0-4-1 in extra-frame situations.

“We’ve been in lots of overtimes, so we know what it’s like,” Moreno said. “It’s just hard.”

Early in the game, it was quite evident that the game could be decided by one goal, but it didn’t look like Free State would be registering that one needed score.

The Firebirds (1-10-1) had two shots on goal in the half, and for the most part, exhibited insipid play. Free State was bailed out, though, by goalkeeper Megan Hrenchir and her seven saves in the half.

“Obviously in the first half, we didn’t play well,” FSHS coach Jason Pendleton said. “We looked like we’d rather be watching Scooby-Doo instead of playing soccer.”

Free State's Alexa Moreno, right, gets rid of the ball against Topeka Hayden's Sarah Laha. The Firebirds fell, 1-0 in double overtime, to the Wildcats on Saturday at Free State.

He was not joking.

Five minutes into the second half, the Firebirds turned the figurative television off. They played with a newfound energy, despite only posting two shots on goal in the second half against the Wildcats (5-4).

Moreno had the last opportunity for her team as she raced down the sideline in the 77th minute and fired a laser shot that managed to graze the hands of Hayden’s goalkeeper, Bri Holmes.

“We wanted to pick it up,” Moreno said. “This is a game I think we should have won.”

Like most struggling teams, Free State showed glimpses of a team without such a dismal record.

Freshman players such as Leah Williams, Logan Keasling and Moreno all were involved in their team’s best scoring opportunities.

And, as usual, the Firebirds received solid effort from Hrenchir, a sophomore, in goal as well as defenders Banaka Okwuone and Clare Robinson.

But again, it was not enough.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that probably our younger players are our most skilled players,” Pendleton said.

“However, at some point you have to go move beyond playing hard and you have move to playing well.”

Free State will play host to Junction City on Monday, before returning to Sunflower League play on Tuesday with a road game at Olathe East.