Glatz powers Firebirds

Listless warm-ups and an emotionless start could have cost Free State High’s soccer team a victory Tuesday.

Greg Glatz, the Firebirds’ senior defender and vocal leader, made sure that didn’t happen.

Down a goal to Shawnee Mission West early in the game, the Firebirds didn’t seem themselves. While their play wasn’t bad, the body language seemed a little nonchalant. Glatz repeatedly got after his teammates to play with some zest.

The words of encouragement didn’t fall on deaf ears, but Glatz really made his point when he scored to tie the game in the 52nd minute.

From that point on, Free State was the aggressor and went on to win, 2-1.

“We got a great goal from Greg, and he’s one of our leaders – an emotional leader – and I think that was big in sparking us in terms of getting everyone’s emotions up,” coach Jason Pendleton said.

The goal came on a corner kick by Andrew Heck. Junior Tyler Hatesohl gathered the ball in a crowded box and flicked it to Glatz, who pounded the ball three feet off the ground into the back of the net.

“The energy level went way up after that,” Pendleton said.

Glatz said the goal was the turning point for the Firebirds (9-4).

“The game is tied. We have to win now,” he said of the team’s mindset at that point.

Win they did. In the 72nd minute Heck was fouled about 10 yard outside the penalty box in the middle of the field, and Erik Slan put a free kick in for the go-ahead goal.

“That didn’t have anything to do with organization or coaching; that’s just Erik Slan being a special player and making a big-time play,” Pendleton said. “That’s why we have him taking them.”

To a man, the Firebirds said they need to remedy the slow-start syndrome that has plagued them.

Bad warm-ups, Glatz said, led to lethargic play.

“We’ve had trouble, throughout the year, starting,” he said. “If we play hard the first five minutes, 10 minutes, that sets the tone for the rest of the game.”

Goalkeeper Frank Hurtig agreed with Glatz’s assessment.

“I thought in the warm-up we had low energy, and no one was ready to play, but once we got scored on we always get a wake-up call,” Hurtig said. “I wish we would just wake up before we get scored on one time.”

The Vikings’ 10th-minute goal that gave them an early lead came on what Hurtig admitted was a mistake. He came out to defend a SMW attacker, but didn’t possess the ball. The Vikings’ Eric Fitzpatrick ended up with the ball about 18 yards out and easily placed it in the goal.

No Firebirds were in place to defend the Vikings’ lone score, which disappointed Pendleton.

“We’ve got to do a much better job covering, get some guys on the line so if that does happen we can clear it out,” he said of the mishap.

But Pendleton was pleased with his team’s efficient scoring – two goals on five shots – and the fact that both scores came on set plays.

“Scoring two goals today on set pieces is good for us and they are definitely things we work on and try to do a good job to take advantage of,” Pendleton said.

The Firebirds, winners of three straight, will look to keep their momentum going at 7 p.m. Thursday at Olathe East.