The Mount Si High School boys’ soccer team, which started its season quite well despite offensive struggles, has hit a rough patch.

The Wildcats played another overtime game last Tuesday, April 1, and ended up with another tie. They finished with a 0-0 draw against Issaquah, which kept Mount Si’s unbeaten start intact.

The Wildcats came home last Thursday, April 3, and hosted a Newport Knights team that seems a bit vulnerable this year. The Knights coming in had two conference losses already this season, and it’s been a while since they had that many losses so soon in the season in the conference. Newport, however, showed why they are still among the best in the league as they dominated in a 1-0 victory.

“I’m taking this loss as being disappointing, because we’re having a hard time putting numbers up,” said Wildcat coach Darren Brown. “I was hoping to get out tonight and get one or two against Newport, and they did a good job shutting us down.”

Jacob Dance scored in the 33rd minute to provide the lone goal for the Knights, who ended Mount Si’s unbeaten string to start the season at seven games. The Wildcats are 3-1-4 going into the second half of the league schedule. Senior defender and co-captain Ben Joselyn says fans can expect a better Mount Si team in the upcoming stretch run.

“You’ll probably see some more shots on goal, some more balls in the back of the net,” Joselyn said. “Our defense is going to stay strong. We’ve been having strong performances by Baker Borgen. Sam Evans has stepped up. McLean Webster has been playing the back of his life and our goalkeepers are outstanding.”

Joselyn, who has been handling his role well as a top defender, played the second half up front and provided a bit of a spark for the Wildcats. Brown praised Joselyn, but also offered a caution.

“I think he brought us some energy,” Brown said. “He definitely brought us some physicalness in the middle of the field, but we’re still missing opportunities for shots on goal, which just comes from our midfield and up top. Until we get that together, all of our games are going to be like this.”

That said, the coach is pleased with the start thus far, which has them in the postseason chase.

“Now we’re going to focus on the second half,” Brown said.

Mount Si played much of the last two-thirds of the game without the services of the other senior co-captain, Kevin Isackson, who was assessed a yellow card by officials in the 29th minute and was not re-entered soon after, even though coaches could do so. The referee for the contest appeared to be the same one who assessed a controversial red card on Isackson during the Wildcats’ 1-1 tie at Skyline on Friday, March 14. That red card cost Isackson a one-game suspension; one more red would cost him the rest of his senior season according to high school rules. Isackson will return for Mount Si’s games this week against the Spartans and Mercer Island.

Friday’s game is against Skyline. Look for the Wildcats to come out ready to play against a well-coached, well-oiled machine. Game time is 7:30 p.m.