photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Giova Rubenstein kicks the ball away from the Lions' goal in a 2-1 loss to Olathe West on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

Lawrence girls soccer lost 2-1 to Olathe West on Saturday in a game that provided a lot of positives for the growing program.

“We’ve talked about taking baby steps with our program, and here’s a top team in the league,” Lawrence coach Joe Comparato said. “To come in here and hold them the way we did, to put them down a goal — we’re taking the steps we need to compete in this league.”

Comparato said he hopes his team recognizes its growth, even with the result.

“They played it exactly the way we wanted them to play, and we almost stole one,” Comparato said.

The Owls possessed the ball for the majority of the game, but that was by the Lions’ design. They entered with the game plan of sitting behind the ball more and focusing on preventing the Owls from giving the ball to their best playmakers.

This meant freshman goalkeeper Lillian Poteete faced a lot of shots. She was consistently tested throughout the game and held up for almost every shot. Comparato was particularly impressed with her saves on corner kicks where she plucked the ball out of the air.

“She’s just an amazing athlete,” Comparato said. “Her footwork, everything she’s doing is working, and she shined today. It’s textbook — her fundamentals. For a freshman goalie to come into the Sunflower League and play at that level is amazing.”

The first half ended without a goal, but the Lions were confident in their game plan. The Lions had a few chances to get a goal in the first half but didn’t come away with any, while the plethora of shots from the Owls were stopped.

“When you’re playing that counter game, you don’t get a lot of people forward, so you’re just relying on some skill play,” Comparato said of the Lions’ offensive game. “We had a couple of chances to put some away, but I’m just happy with how we controlled (the game).”

Junior Ginny Besson had a few opportunities with the ball and some space in the middle of the field throughout the game, although some fouls by the Owls helped prevent her from scoring. In the 11th minute of the second half, Besson put one in after the Lions worked the ball to the middle of the penalty area.

The Lions didn’t hold the lead for long before the Owls tied it up. The Lions kept their game plan for the final 17 minutes, but the Owls were able to put through a second goal with less than nine minutes left in the game.

Lawrence fell to 5-5 on the season and will host Shawnee Mission West on Tuesday before facing Shawnee Mission South on the road on Thursday.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Sidra Besson gets in front of the ball in a 2-1 loss to Olathe West on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman goalkeeper Lillian Poteete takes the ball out after making a save in a 2-1 loss to Olathe West on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Giova Rubenstein gains control of the ball in a 2-1 loss to Olathe West on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Lawrence.