Cougars struggle to end frustrating slide

After a 7-0 win against Harris-Stowe State on Sept. 20, the Columbia College soccer team was 6-2 and on a three-game winning streak.

After their 2-0 loss to Baker University on Saturday at R. Marvin Owens Soccer Stadium, the Cougars have been in a tailspin, losing four of their past five games to fall to 7-6.

Cougars coach John Klein blamed the team’s problems on attitude.

“I think their work ethic is poor,” Klein said. “I think their commitment is not what it needs to be ... They proved early in the year that they could win big games, but now they don’t have the confidence and they’re pointing fingers.”

Sophomore goalie Tanner Mills said the team’s recent struggles on the field are not because of any fundamental problems, but the mental approach it takes during the game.

“We’re just lackadaisical really,” Mills said. “We come into the games lazy; we just go through the motions in games I feel. Nobody’s really excited to go out and do something special.”

For the Cougars to be successful, they are going to have to treat soccer like a student would treat a difficult class, Klein said.

“These guys are going to have to start listening to the coaching staff and studying it like it’s a class,” Klein said. “Maybe they’ve taken it lightly, because I know the coaching staff hasn’t taken it lightly and it’s very disturbing right now.”

In addition to the team’s poor motivation, the players have not been executing on the field, Klein said.

“The coaching staff finds themselves screaming from the sidelines for every move for the guys to make,” he said. “They’re not doing it on their own.”

Despite recent failures, the Cougars’ season isn’t doomed. It is still possible for them to make a postseason appearance.

“Our season’s not over. We still have five games in the regular season and we’re still likely to be in the conference play-in which is an opportunity to get in the region tournament,” Klein said. “That’s still a month away, so there’s time to figure it out.”