By Steve Morris

Sometimes the score doesnít reflect the style and play of the game.

As was the case on Sept. 5 when the Vikings boys soccer team lost to Spring Lake Park 9-1.

Afterwards, the boys discussed how the score didnít accurately reflect their effort, head coach Brad Gustafson said.

ìThe Panthers beat us to the ball and that earned them many shots,î Gustafson said. ìIím proud of how we kept plugging away and stuck together.î

Spring Lake Park notched a point on the electronic scored board early with a penalty kick. Daub Bartylla scored the Vikings only goal shortly before the end of the first half.

Moving right along, the Vikings played Fridley at home Sept. 7. As has been the story line for the past three games, the Vikings were unable to put together a complete game.

They held a physical Fridley team ñ they committed nine fouls ñ scoreless in the first half by playing well on both ends of the field. In the first half, North Branch connected on five consecutive passes. However, the Vikings lost focus in the second half and lost the game 4-0. Four separate players notched goals for Fridley.

Freshmen goalie Austin Holmes had nine saves for the Vikings.

ìI loved the first half,î Gustafson said. ìBut the second half slipped away from us.î

Gustafson, expressed his frustration with the teams inability to play a complete game. But, he noted, they are not going to give up because of a loss. He said his team needs to practice the fundamentals of the game in order to compete in possibly the toughest conference in the state. Teams like Fridley, he said, will runaway with the game if they donít do the basics.

ìThe fundamentals have to be solid if we are going to get to where we want to be,î he said.

On Sept. 11 the Vikings fell to Robbinsdale Cooper 2-3.

North Branch played well against Cooper, considering last season they lost 7-0 to them.

New striker TJ Leason scored the only two goals of the night for the Vikings. The first goal came from a pass from Brian Grand. Leasonís second goal was unassisted.

ìTJ brings a new element to our team,î Gustafson said. He is fast and he fights hard. We like his speed and the chemistry he is developing with his teammates.î