This past homecoming week, the boys varsity soccer team entered over-time against Chanhassen locking a 2-2 score tie by the end of the game.

Junior Ben Klepfer said he respected the result but believed that the team had a chance to win the game.

“I think we played really well throughout the whole game, I just think we had one lapse at the end defensively that just allowed them to score that tying goal, but we played really well all around,” Klepfer said.

Varsity assistant coach Pat Hartman said a variety of drills is the right way to get the team to work on the same wavelength taking their strengths into consideration.

“As a coach, you need to know the strengths of your players and know where to use them on the field in different situations,” Hartman said.

According to junior captain Zinedine Kroeten, the team had a defensive lapse near the end of the game which allowed Chanhassen to score.

“We played kinda scrappy at the beginning then after we tied we started playing with much more confidence,” Kroeten said.

Kroeten, who was one of two to score a goal along with senior captain Jacob Stillman, said although the team let their guard down near the end of the game, they now know what they need to improve on.

“We let down our guard for just a small time at the end and that’s how they tied us so we just need to hustle back on transitions all the time,” said Kroeten.

Klepfer said he is proud of the team’s progress and expects the team to maintain their level of intensity through the rest of the season.

“We changed a lot from the game against Kennedy to the game against Chanhassen, and I think that’s why we performed so well,” Klepfer said.

Hartman said he enjoys watching the team improve in every game so far this season.

“It has been fun to see the boys build on what they know and really work well as a cohesive unit,” Hartman said.

The next game will take place at 5 p.m. on Sept. 19 at Robbinsdale Cooper High School.