The Silver Knight boys soccer team of Tyler Consolidated suffered their first loss of the season, going 2-1 on the week to put their season record now standing at 6-1-3. The team gained wins over St. Marys and Oak Glen but fell to those pesky Red Riders of Weir.

The Knights opened their week up with the Riders at home on Sept. 6, suffering the loss, 3-0.

“We outplayed them from the first, out shot them 7-6,” said head coach of the Silver Knights, Scott Wall. “We played very well, a couple of mental breakdowns early cost us, but a lot of our play with them is mental. They’ve been to the state playoffs a few times and we never have. They play how we want to play.”

“We looked good though, we just weren’t able to score. The field was pretty mushy, and it contributed to mistakes on both sides of the ball.”

The Knights hosted the coed team from St. Marys at home on Thursday, taking the win, 4-1.

“We got to get some of our younger guys in the game, which is always a good thing,” Wall said. “The more experience they get the better.”

Scoring in the game for the home team were Mario Mantecon; Dylan Romine, twice; and Chris Postlethwait. Two assists were credited to Jeremy Smith.

The Knights took 21 shots on goal in the game to the visitors five.

“Our defense is doing a great job this season,” the coach said. “Brandon Frye is doing very well for us on defense. Paying attention to details and being in the right place at the right time; Dustin Tawney has improved so very much since his freshman year, probably the most I’ve seen a player improve in my time as a coach. But he works very hard at his game, and it is definitely paying off. Scott Sole is another one who is becoming a more complete player as a defender. He charges more and is less patient to wait for the ball to come to him, he now goes after it aggressively.”

Even though we haven’t allowed a lot of shots on goal, our goal keeper, Skylar Kinnard, has done an excellent job in the net. He’s doing his job. These guys have worked and are working hard this season, and I think their play on the field is showing exactly that.”

Wall said he feels his team is settling into their positions and roles on the team, which comes with experience.

At Oak Glen on Saturday, the Silver Knights took control of the game early on and determined their prowess quickly, eventually taking the win over the undefeated Golden Bears, 3-0.

“Oak Glen is a good team, and they always give us trouble,” the coach said. “But we matched up with them good in this game. Coach Matt Kinnard and I were very pleased with how we played. Our focus on details is better this season and it showed in this game.”

The Silver and Black out shot the Bears 17 shots to three with goals coming from Nathan Heintzman, Dylan Romine and Chris Postlethwait. Jeremy Smith again assisted on two.

“Again, our defense played well,” Wall said. “Everybody had a good game.”

“I’m impressed with the senior leadership on the team this season. Skylar, Jeremy, Chris and even the two newcomers to the team, Tanner Buchanan and Nik Keller. They’re all providing excellent leadership for the younger guys. It’s making a difference.”

This week and the coming weeks the Silver Knights will be running the gauntlet of games from one field to another as they come to the middle of their season.

This week will see the team at Linsly on Thursday and Ravenswood on Saturday.