After averaging four goals per match in the nonleague portion of its schedule, the Oak Harbor High School soccer team couldn’t find the back of the net in the conference opener, falling 2-0 to visiting Stanwood Thursday, Sept. 18.

The Wildcats outscored their opponents 12-1 while winning three non-conference contests.

After an uneven effort in the first 20 minutes, Oak Harbor dominated the Stanwood match.

The Wildcats had plenty of opportunities to score but misfired all night. Five shots hit the side net, two in the final two minutes.

“You don’t get points for those,” coach Mike Lonborg said, “or for hitting the cross bar.”

Lonborg said his team was tentative and is stilling learning “how to win” after years of struggling.

“The girls have potential,” Lonborg said. “They know that.”

However, instead of playing to win, they are playing not to lose and are “afraid of making mistakes,” he added.

Stanwood scored seven minutes into the match after picking off an errant Wildcat pass. The Spartans (1-0, 1-0-1) scored again on a counter attack with nine minutes left when Oak Harbor was pressing forward, looking for the tying goal.

Oak Harbor (0-1, 3-1) challenges Marysville Getchell (0-0, 1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.