The UIS Prairie Stars were defeated in their second game this week in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) men’s soccer match Sunday at Kiwanis Stadium. The ball was kicked off by UIS, then intercepted by the opposing team; and within the first few seconds of the game Missouri S&T had their first of many goals that game.

By the time the second goal by Missouri was made, you could see the hope of the UIS fans slowly fade away. The fans had given up on a team that appeared to give up on itself. Some people would even go as far to say that after the first goal by Missouri in the first half, the game was already won. Not because the Stars were incapable, but because they had already psyched themselves out.

“We hurt ourselves” said Head Coach Jesse Miech. He went on to say “One of our goals is to be strong in the first 5 minutes and last 5 minutes of every half.”  This goal seemed unattainable at Sunday’s game against Missouri S&T.

There were several shot attempts by Mark Czarny, Nikita Fadeev,  Baeden Jones, and Mark Williams. All were either deflected by Missouri or just not hit at the right angle. Missouri’s goalie made sure his team’s goal was impenetrable.

Miech said it was not about trying to find a miracle formula to end the losing streak but rather do what they plan to do, but better. The team doesn’t need a completely new set a strategies—just a new mentality. He said they need to keep on with the “basics” and that not a lot was going to change with their “overall game plan.”

Another factor that plays into the team’s success is that the team does have a number of new players. These players have an immense amount of talent, but are still getting adjusted to playing at this level; and with a new team.

Coach Miech makes sure that his players are humble.  “We don’t want to be too high and we don’t to be too low,” said Miech. This is what he and his team call “going to work.”  Miech said, “ it tough continually giving the same type of talk after you lose the same type of game over and over again,” but they cannot and will not give up. Miech also mentioned that it was the “little things” that are going to help the team get out the rut they are in.

The game ended with a score of 0-4; putting the UIS men’s soccer team at a 2-6-0 and Missouri with a 4-3-1. Their season has not yet come to a halt, there is plenty of time for the team to dig of this hole and get back to business. “It has got to be game by game, sometimes it’s practice by practice and sometimes half by half.”