Overland Park ? After falling into a 3-0 hole in the first half of Thursday’s match against Shawnee Mission Northwest, Lawrence High girls soccer coach Matt McCune challenged his team to win the second half.

The Lions would have answered their coach’s call had it not been for an own goal with five minutes remaining, but McCune was still pleased with his team’s resilience in the 5-2 setback at the Shawnee Mission Soccer Complex.

“I was proud of the way they stepped, especially the wingers and the forwards,” McCune said. “They really brought some energy.”

Junior Skylar Drum scored in the 55th and the 73rd minutes to spark the Lions after the break. Drum used her speed to get behind the SM Northwest back line, and McCune believes that the LHS forward is just starting to scratch the surface of the player she can be.

“She’s got a lot in her. She’s learning that position,” said McCune of Drum. “She’s still confused of when to make runs, how to make runs and when to check to the ball. When she gets that figured out, it’s not only going to give her more goals but it’s going to get our team more goals by getting others involved where she is going to get some assists because of it.”

All three of the Cougars’ first-half goals came in a five-minute surge. Northwest sophomore Megan Nugent jump-started the Cougars with a goal in the 14th minute, and also found the back of the net in the 48th.

McCune put the brunt of the blame on himself for the Cougars’ quick start.

“I think a lot of it is the wind and getting used to the fields to be honest with you because we practice on turf and we play on turf a lot, but no excuses,” McCune said. “The first half was probably more on me than anything because they just weren’t ready to play, and that’s got to fall on the coach.”

The Lions (4-2) will play next against Shawnee Mission West at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lawrence High.