If just one issue had plagued Lawrence High’s boys soccer team of late, the Lions most likely would be fine with that.

At least that would be easier to fix.

Instead, a number of problems have emerged since the calendar turned to October, and the LHS winless streak extended to five games Monday night with a 3-0 loss to Olathe East at LHS.

Lawrence started the season hot, winning six of eight, but now the Lions (6-6-2) find themselves in a funk with just two regular-season games remaining.

At home against O-East, Lawrence seemed physically capable of matching up with its talented foe, but the Hawks attacked the LHS goal all evening, and Mark VanLandingham (a goal in each half) and Andrew Kramer delivered crucial scores.

These days, Lions coach Mike Murphy is searching for some consistency and “80 clean minutes” of soccer.

“We’re not finishing enough of our opportunities,” the coach said, citing Lawrence’s six corner kicks against O-East, none of which produced a shot on goal.

Seniors Jakob Burdett and Sam Stephens took shots at the Hawks’ goal, as did sophomore Cain Scott, but otherwise Lawrence didn’t threaten offensively.

LHS played without key senior defender Ellis Springe in a loss and tie last week, but he returned this week and hoped the Lions could regain their early-season mojo.

“It started at the Free State game,” Springe said of the 3-1 loss that marked the first game of the skid. “We lost a lot of our confidence, and we haven’t been able to get it back.”

Midfield play, Murphy said, had been a Lions strength the first few weeks of the season, but now even that is amiss, and LHS has allowed 2.4 goals a game since its last win, on September 30.

“It’s just breakdowns or a mistake or a miscommunication,” Murphy said of all that has led to their slump. “A whole bunch of times, it’s been set plays. And we’re just not being real focused, I guess, real aggressive to attack those balls on set plays.”

Lawrence has two more shots to get on track (both at home) this week: 7 tonight against Olathe North, and Thursday’s regular-season finale against Shawnee Heights.