Free State’s girls soccer team went into Tuesday’s home match against Shawnee Mission South looking for its season-best third straight win, but the Firebirds were denied as they fell to the Raiders, 2-0.

The Firebirds lived dangerously for much of the first half, fending off six SM South corner kicks, but the Raiders broke through in the 36th minute with a goal from senior Megan Stollsteimer.

“When you think you’ve done a good job of at least keeping the ball in front of you, it’s kind of disappointing to see one trickle in,” FSHS coach Kelly Barah said.

The Raiders came close to breaking through a minute earlier as well, but the FSHS back line came to the aid of junior goalkeeper Mika Schrader. The Firebirds’ goalie came out of the net to make a play on the ball and found herself out of position, but senior defender Brooke Hayes made a kick save to keep the game scoreless.

“I just saw the ball going over to the corner, so I just stepped in and hit it out,” Hayes said.

Free State went into the break trailing, 1-0, but it was not long before the Raiders added to their lead. In the 50th minute, SM South freshman Robyn McDonald capitalized on a clean look at the back of the net and was able to get it past Schrader, despite the FSHS keeper making a diving effort and getting a hand on the shot.

“We came out pretty strong, and then just kind of started to fall apart toward the end,” Hayes said. “Our energy just wasn’t there tonight. We’ll definitely build on this and get better.”

The Firebirds struggled to connect on passes for much of the first half, but started to find an offensive rhythm in the second. Freshman Maya Hodison was able to make a few runs up the middle of the field and distribute the ball out wide to put pressure on the Raiders.

“I think in the second half that we got more offense, and that’s because we were kind of calming down a little bit,” Hodison said. “It’s just the main thing is finding those gaps and really looking for those passes.”

The Firebirds (5-5) lost back-to-back games twice for their previous four setbacks, so they will try to shake that trend when they play at 7 p.m. Thursday at Olathe North.