Newton boys soccer frustrated with back-to-back losses

OSKALOOSA — Newton’s boys soccer team was held to one goal against Oskaloosa on Tuesday night and it came in the final 2 minutes of the Little Hawkeye Conference match.

After the 2-1 road loss to the Indians, the Cardinal coaching staff and the players had a ‘come to Jesus moment’ back in their home locker room.

“We flat out just didn’t get off the bus tonight,” Newton head boys soccer coach Zach Jensen said. “We let another one slip away.

“We had an hour and a half chat with the team and then with the captains after we got back to town. We need to figure out what’s wrong, and the changes we plan to make will start at practice (Wednesday).”

It was a windy night at Lacy Sports Complex and the Indians (2-2 overall, 1-1 in LHC play) took advantage of it in the first half. They led 2-0 at the break, and the Cardinals could only muster the one goal in the 78th minute.

The goal came from Christian Lawson and the assist was off the foot of Derek Beiner. But it was too little too late for the Cardinals, who fell to 3-3 and 1-1 in conference play.

“Give them credit for scoring two goals in the first half,” Jensen said. “The first 78 minutes we looked like we didn’t want to play soccer. We didn’t play even close to our potential.”

Newton took 20 shots and nine shots on goal. Caleb Lawson registered three saves in the loss.

Carson Genskow had both of Oskaloosa’s goals. The first one came in the 10th minute and he made it 2-0 in the 25th minute.

Nevada 3, Newton 2

NEVADA — The Cubs scored twice in the final 5 minutes to sneak past Newton on Monday.

The Cardinals rallied from an early hole to take a 2-1 lead after 75 minutes, but Nevada scored with 5 minutes to play to tie and then got a penalty-kick goal in the 78th minute to complete the rally.

“The officiating just wasn’t that good for either side,” Jensen said. “There were only two officials, and it’s hard for them to be close enough to the play to make accurate calls. We didn’t think the penalty kick was a good call.”

The Cardinals trailed 1-0 in the first half, but Bryar Annee’s third goal of the season tied the contest in the 28th minute. Nate Lampe scored his team-best fifth goal in the 34th minute to give Newton the 2-1 lead at halftime.

“I was happy we fought back being down 1-0,” Jensen said. “But I thought we were missing a lot of the heart and grit we need to play with to win. There was a lack of effort and a lack of desire. We let this one slip. It’s a disheartening loss.”

Newton took 19 shots and had seven shots on goal. Beiner had the assist on Annee’s goal and Hunter Kennedy delivered his team-high seventh assist to Lampe.

Lawson registered four saves in 74 minutes in goal. Hunter Teague was in goal for the other 6 minutes.

Jensen said the Cardinals didn’t have their heads on a swivel enough late in the match and Nevada (3-2) took advantage.

“We let three guys get open on the back side on the tying goal,” Jensen said. “We were playing to protect the lead but not playing to win.”