SEYMOUR — Two boys soccer teams in somewhat desperate need of a win got the next-best thing — a tie.
Hauser and Trinity Lutheran played to a 1-1 draw Thursday at Trinity. The Jets had started the season with a pair of losses.
“We played very well in spurts, and that’s the way the game goes,” Hauser coach Andy Hunnicutt said. “I thought we played well enough to win. We just couldn’t get the shots to go in. We’re still young and improving, and it’s just going to take time.”
The Cougars (2-2-3), playing their third game over a four-day span, lost two players to injury early, forcing them to play with just 11 total with two already out due to injury. Trinity and Hauser (0-2-1) battled back and forth through the first half, with neither able to get ahead.
Out of the break, tied 0-0, the Cougars drew a foul in the 42nd minute. Andrew Emily slotted a penalty shot to the left post to give Trinity the lead.
The Jets answered on a set piece. In the 53rd minute, Andrew Titus crossed a free kick in from the right side of the box to the head of Will Trotter, who buried the ball far post.
Trinity was awarded another penalty kick in the 58th minute, but Noah Criswell’s attempt hit the top-left corner and went out of bounds.
Neither team could get the edge in the final 20 minutes.
The Cougars outshot Hauser 18-16. In goal, Jacob Keith grabbed 11 saves for Trinity, and Cameron Lawson had six saves for the Jets.
“I can’t complain about any efforts,” Trinity assistant coach Justin Vorthmann said. “Everyone who was out here gave it everything they had. We made it harder than we needed to on ourselves. We took ourselves out of position and had to work to get back in position. Everyone left it out there; we got more out of players today than we should have. I’m really proud that they kept going against a tough team.”
In the final minute of play, the Cougars Trent Shoemaker was issued his second yellow of the game — which took him off the field with an automatic red, and also the Cougars’ next game on Wednesday at Brown County. If the Cougars don’t get one of their players back by Wednesday, they will have no choice but to play with 10 on the field in Nashville.
“There were plenty of things we improved on this week,” Vorthmann said. “Progress was made. We just need to get healthy.”
