Lawrence High’s boys soccer game against Shawnee Mission South on Thursday night epitomized the Lions’ entire season.

Despite playing hard for two 40-minute halves, the Lions lost, 2-0, and fell to 1-15 on the season.

“That is pretty much how it has been all season,” LHS senior Spencer Sorenson said. “Things just don’t seem to go our way.”

The Raiders possessed the ball for most of the first half as the Lions struggled to gain any offensive momentum. The Lions’ defense did however hold the Raiders to just one first-half goal, which came with 20:32 left in the half. Shawnee Mission South’s Jon Hurst-Sneh received a pass directly in front of the goal and got it past goalkeeper Colin Flanders.

Lawrence High's John Rosskopf (50) struggles for control of the ball with Shawnee Mission South's Pat Shriwise. The Lions lost, 2-0, Thursday night at the Youth Sports Inc. fields.

“They were a really hot team coming into this game,” said LHS coach David Platt. “They just went and beat Olathe East, who was the No. 8 team in the state.”

The Raiders continued to control the ball for the rest of the first half. The Lions were able to counter the ball several times, but continued to struggle on offense. Platt credited MSS sweeper Tyson Loudermill for the Lions’ inability to establish an offensive game.

“Every time we tried to get the ball down there he would counter it out,” Platt said. “They just moved him to sweeper about nine games ago. I think it was a pretty good decision.”

As well as the Lions defense played in the first half, it was even better in the second. Considering the Raiders were constantly on the offensive, the Lions cleared the ball and minimized the Raiders’ shots on goal. Flanders also contributed to the defensive effort with several impressive saves.

On one possession, with about 27 minutes left in the game, the Raiders took a corner kick and got two different shots on goal. After making a diving save for the first stop, Flanders recovered just in time to scoop up another shot before the offensive player could get his foot on it. Two minutes later, Flanders made another diving save.

Lawrence's Daniel Parker (33) heads the ball after a throw-in during the first half.

“I was really proud of the way he played tonight,” Sorenson said. “That is one of the best games I have seen him play.”

Even Flanders’ best game couldn’t hold the Raiders scoreless in the second half. With 13:41 left in the game, Shawnee Mission South’s Sam Kerwin crossed the ball from the corner of the field and Nathan Taylor headed the ball past Flanders, giving the Raiders a 2-0 lead.

The Lions did have one opportunity to put the ball in the net when Sorenson broke loose from the Raiders defenders after the defense countered the ball. He went one-on-one with the Raiders’ goalkeeper, who made the save as the ball hit him in the face.

Sorenson was frustrated after the game because he said one more move would have made for an easy shot.

“I should have cut him to the left or the right,” Sorenson said. “Initially I tried to put a move on him and I had a pretty good look, but I just didn’t finish.”

The Lions’ next game will be in regional play Tuesday.