The Mount Si boys soccer team played a solid game but could not overcome an early Issaquah goal in its pre-season loss to the Eagles.

The Wildcats fell 1-0 to Issaquah, Saturday, March 14, playing on a neutral field at Eastlake High School in Sammamish as part of the KingCo boys soccer showcase event.

Despite the loss, Mount Si coach Darren Brown said his team held up well.

“Game one of preseason, we’re going to be rusty,” Brown said. “Things aren’t going to work as planned at all times.”

To Brown, the Mount Si boys’ play improved in the game’s second half.

“We have a group of boys that can do some good things,” the coach said. “I liked what I saw today in many aspects.”

The lone goal of the game was scored by the Eagles’ Larry Schneider in the sixth minute. He fired a shot past Mount Si goalkeeper Cody Tipton.

From that point on, the Wildcats’ play improved steadily. Doug Silvius, seen as the key offensive weapon for Mount Si, got three excellent chances to score in the 16th, 18th and 19th minutes, but none hit paydirt.

“It’s definitely not our best play, not mine personally or the team’s,” a disappointed Silvius said. “I know we can do better. It was a good game, so the new kids on our team know what it’s like. We can improve from here.”

Tipton came up huge in the second half, making several spectacular saves, including one off of one hand in the 65th minute off another Schneider shot. He helped keep the game close.

“After seeing Cody in goal today I think we have the best goalie in the league,” Brown said.

Not only was Tipton making huge saves, he also was establishing himself as a field general, helping many teammates — who were playing their first varsity games at the high school level — make adjustments during the contest. That’s how Tipton plans on leading as a senior.

At every practice and every game, he said he intends to be vocal with teammates about expectations.

“I’m going to just keep yelling at them and telling them what to do, so that they know what to do,” Tipton said.

Kyle Bauman also had his chances to score. The Wildcat fired a shot in the 56th minute that was stopped on the fly by the Issaquah keeper, after he had come out to play the ball and left his net wide open.

The Eagles held on from there. One last attempt by Silvius landed in the arms of Issaquah goalie’s as the final whistle sounded.

Mount Si hosts Eastlake on Wednesday, March 18. Game time is 7:30 p.m.