photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State senior forward Trenton Cozadd takes the ball into the final third in a 2-0 loss to Olathe East on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Olathe.

Free State’s boys soccer team has hit an offensive rut over the last four games, with just one goal scored in that time and three shutout losses.

But the team is confident that things will turn around. Most of Free State’s boys soccer players have spent a lot of time together from club teams and at Free State. The team has chemistry with each other and knows how to play with each other. It’s just a matter of figuring out the offensive hitch together.

“Keeping our heads together and building together is huge,” senior midfielder Caleb Huggins said. “There’s been a lot of points where we’ve seen the offense prevail and do really well, but there’s just been some missed opportunities and good defenses that are hard to get by.”

Free State scored 12 goals in the first five games while building a 3-1-1 record. The issue isn’t for a lack of ability, just a rough patch that can come within the natural ebb and flow of the soccer season.

Where the Firebirds have struggled is in getting the ball across the net. The good news is the issues aren’t with the overall offensive process — the team is able to possess the ball and move up to the final third of the field. The problem comes with finishing the play.

“We pass pretty well, we possess pretty well … but you can’t win if you don’t put them in the goal,” Free State coach Tyson Heck said. “We had a little spell where we weren’t getting enough shots off, so we worked hard on that. We’re getting the shots now, but we’re just not getting them in.”

What helps the Firebirds keep their confidence is the fact that the offense is close to scoring and has players who have shown the ability to score. The team has continued to stress keeping effort and mental focus up so the team can work through the finishing issues.

“The effort has been consistent; you can tell everyone is giving effort,” Huggins said. “It’s been rough with the losses, but if we keep giving effort and we keep trying to figure the small things out, we’ll get it.”

While the senior leaders and captains have helped make sure that everyone stays focused and keeps the effort up, Heck said everyone on the team has done their job in encouraging one another.

“Everybody has a role, and depending on the practice or depending on the game, there’s always somebody picking somebody up and complimenting and encouraging,” Heck said. “The captains do a lot, but the whole team in general does a great job, too.”

Huggins said the team’s connection with each other has made it easier to remain positive and helpful for each other through the struggles. He said, “I don’t think there’s ever a point where I don’t think there’d be a guy backing up another player.”

“We’re a family,” Huggins said. “You rarely see someone get on another person. You see them pick them up, and I think that’s a huge part of who we are. It’s been a help for these tough losses.”

“It’s been hard, but us seniors have been building this community for months, and we’re trying to build on that every day,” senior midfielder Neel Sabarwal added. “It’s been hard, but at the end of the day, we all want to win. That makes things easier.”

Free State still has a lot of regular season left to figure things out. The ball movement has been a strength of the team, both through the midfield and when moving the ball outside to create scoring opportunities.

“Overall, we’ve gotten to the final third really well; it’s just a matter of getting it in,” Sabarwal said. “We’re pretty confident. At the start of the season, we were confident and it was easy for us. Once we get that back and figure that out again, it’ll work out really well for us. We’ve been focusing on that and working hard on that, so if we keep working, it’ll be a benefit.”