It was a disappointing morning for the 9U Kaw Valley Force premier soccer team as they matched wits with the Shawnee Elite Vipers in the Kaw Valley Cup on Saturday morning at Youth Sports Inc.

After lagging behind the Vipers throughout the game, the Force dropped their first game of the tournament 3-0, though defeated Force players said they were still happy to have played the game.

“I still think we played well,” Force forward and defender Matthew Siler said.

Like the team’s namesake animal, the Vipers struck a venomous blow when they found the back of the net for the first and only goal of the first half.

Fighting back the Force’s Noah Huston stepped up to be a formidable challenger. Small and speedy, Huston narrowly missed landing a few goals by mere inches. Huston and his teammates got a good workout running the field in a back and forth in the matchup with the Vipers. Yet the Force’s efforts just weren’t enough and the team finished the first half scoreless.

Marching into the second the Vipers continued their powerful grip on KVF throughout the last 20 minutes. Force Nick Larkin ran in to deflect an attempt at a third goal but was unable to stop the Vipers from converting.

The Force’s Adam Auert wove the ball in and out of Viper defenders in his attempt to gain control of the ball and put a point on the board. Auert said he was invigorated to step up his performance after the halftime break.

“I rested at the half to come back strong,” Auert said.

9U Force's Noah Huston runs upfield Saturday against Shawnee Elite Vipers. Huston narrowly missed two goals in the Force's 3-0 loss.

As the wind began to pick up the Force’s playing intensity and desire to kick in a goal seemed to pick up also. It was to be now or never for the team to lay down their counterattack. They had more looks at the net, but down by two points with minutes left in the second half it seemed like there was no turnaround in sight.

With seconds ticking down the Vipers pounded in the third, final and winning goal that ended the game 3-0.

Down but not out, the Force agreed that their first appearance in the tournament was well worth it.

On the weekend the Force went 1-2, defeating the Kansas Rush Blue fire 2-1 in their last game of the tournament.