The shot on goal that refused to reach its target at the back of the net left a wry smile on Kate Lawrence’s face.

The would-have-been first strike against Shawnee Mission West in the opening minutes of the second half Tuesday night at Free State High turned out to be the Firebirds’ best threat in a 1-0 home defeat.

FSHS freshman Kate Stallard’s preceding attempt set the stage for a corner kick, which emerged from a crowd in front of the net perfectly for Lawrence. The FSHS junior boomed her shot out of the reach of the Vikings’ goalkeeper, but it barreled into the upper right corner of the frame.

“It hit just the spot to make it bounce right out,” Lawrence marveled.

Though the Firebirds (7-3-1) lost, all Lawrence could do was laugh at the result of her chance.

“From where I had it I had a perfect shot at the goal,” Lawrence said. “If I just would’ve not put as much power on it maybe it would’ve gone a little lower.”

Outside of an off-target Sydni Beeley header and a Ryan Malloy kick that sailed high over the goal, both in the first half, Free State didn’t encounter many opportunities.

SMW, though, put eight shots on goal in the road win, including the winner in the 64th minute. On a ball played into the box, Vikings sophomore Sydney Leslie found herself one-on-one with Free State keeper Kaelyn Weiss and Leslie put a shot just out of the senior goalie’s reach.

The Firebirds left the loss irked for at least one night but optimistic about the trajectory of their season.

“We played well,” Lawrence said. “It was just a shot that barely went in that could’ve decided the game. It was pretty even and we had possession most of the game. It was really close. They were really aggressive. We tried our best, I think.”

FSHS plays at home again on Thursday, when Olathe West visits.