It was a goal so surprising the player who scored wore a reaction of complete shock.

Maybe it was the distance of the strike. Perhaps it was the high-looping trajectory of the ball when Shawnee Mission South’s Lucy Foley struck it or even the eight seconds that remained in the first half as it entered the net.

One way or another, Foley’s buzzer-beating strike dealt a blow to the Free State girls’ soccer team, which was never able to recover in a 2-0 home loss on Thursday.

“That bit. That bit,” said junior Emma Yackley of the goal. “We played good as a team, I thought. It was just some really unlucky goals.”

Whether it was the chipped ball at the 39:52-mark in the first half or the one some 25 minutes later off a Shawnee Mission South corner kick, those goals put an end to what had been a perfect season for the Firebirds.

Coming into the game, Yackley had scored four goals and assisted on another. Sydni Beeley had tabbed four as well, while goalkeeper Kaelyn Weiss had allowed less than a single goal per game.

Sitting at 4-0, the Firebirds were on the doorstop of putting together their first five-game winning streak since 2012.

“We’re playing fantastic soccer,” said coach Kelly Barah. “Yeah, we did hit a bump on the road today, but I don’t think it was because of a lack of not understanding the game. We played a fantastic game.”

That game culminated in several offensive chances for the Firebirds, who were outshot 21-11, but actually tabbed more shots on goal than the Raiders, 7-5.

Yackley had a pair of chances off free kicks in the first half, nearly scoring on one in the 32nd minute from about 40 yards away. Beeley also created several chances in the box while perhaps the best opportunity came at the feet of Jade McAlister — set up by a teammate who wasn’t even on the field.

As McAlister entered the game for Kylie Hawkins, her teammate shouted across some words of encouragement.

“Look for the gaps, Hawkins said. “They’re there.”

Moments later, Emily Stone found McAlister with a pass, but the shot was hit right at the keeper. The Firebirds remained without a goal and were never able to get on the board.

“With a game like this, and when we start playing Sunflower League competition, you have to be able to go finish,” Barah said.

Sure enough, the knock-out punch came the other way.

Shawnee Mission South’s Alexis House found space on a corner kick and rose up for a header, which she slotted past Weiss and into the net.

The goal, not unlike the first, was one Weiss never really had a chance at reaching. The senior goalkeeper pretty much handled everything else that was within her grasp, tabbing three saves — one of which was a diving stop of a low shot at the near post in the 55th minute.

A theme of the day, the only other trouble Weiss dealt with was — again — out of her hands.

Before the game, Weiss’ orange No. 1 jersey remained untucked, draping down almost to her knees. One of the referees came over to give her a hard time about it, to which she quipped back, “We ran out of smalls.”

“Definitely a little big. It’s a medium and I’m an extra small,” Weiss said after the game with a smile. “So it kinda can pass as a dress.”

Still, Weiss rebounded with some alert plays, as did the rest of her team. The only thing missing on a windy April day with the temperature dipping below the 60-degree mark was a win.

“We definitely played fantastic as a team, but that 4-0 really felt good,” Weiss said.

“Today was the first time we weren’t able to get it to the back of the net,” Barah added. “We’ll try to get better at that.”