Newton Citizen

COVINGTON -- To say that the Alcovy boys soccer team came out flat is an understatement as the Tigers committed 86 turnovers in their 4-1 loss to Woodland on Tuesday.

"There were times when it looked like we didn't even want to be here. Their morale and confidence are low," a disappointed Alcovy head coach Chris Edgar said. "We're better than that, but as a team we didn't show it.

"Their heart, at times, needs to questioned. Our theme all year has been that until we take care of our own business, it's not going to matter."

After giving up a goal in the first half, Alcovy (3-4 overall, 0-3 Area 3A-AAAA) came back to tie the game in the second half off a Rysan Richardson goal. However, Alcovy's upbeat attitude did not last long as the Wolfpack (7-1, 3-0) regained the lead less than a minute later.

"We finally get a cheap goal which we can't seem to get, then we fall asleep and let them get the momentum back," Edgar said. "I think once that happened, we were deflated. It's was like a 'here we go again' mentality. Unfortunately, it's something that's hurt us for most of the season."

Alcovy's slide started after a meteoric rise, when it scored 12 goals while holding the opposing team to four goals after its first three games. But everything seemed to hit a brick wall for no reason as it has scored four goals while giving up 15 in the past four games.

"We started the first three games and put (12) goals on," Edgar said. "Since then, we're having a hard time finding shots. Part of that is when we turn the ball over. In the (12)-goal run we were putting seven, eight, nine passes together. Here, it's one pass and turnover or no passes and turnover. That definitely has a direct relationship to the amount of offensive attack we can have."

The Tigers only had eight shots on goal, with Daniel Grothaus pacing Alcovy with three.