A decent second half couldn’t overcome a sloppy first period, and the Oak Harbor High School soccer team lost 3-1 to visiting Anacortes in the season opener Saturday, March 9.

“We made mistakes trying to push it too much offensively against a highly skilled team and found ourselves down 0-2,” Oak Harbor coach Jeff Laiblin said in regard to the first half. “Both goals could have been prevented. We also missed way too many chances.

“In the second half we played much better.”

The Wildcats cut the Seahawks’ lead to one, 2-1, when Alberto Hernandez scored off a corner kick.

Oak Harbor nearly tied it up moments later on Nathan Merrill’s near miss.

“The rest of the half we pushed but just couldn’t get it in the net to equalize,” Laiblin said.

As the Wildcats were pushing to score, Anacortes tallied in the final minute on a counter attack to complete the scoring.

Oak Harbor plays at Stanwood at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in another non-league game.