In a low-scoring game like soccer, sometimes all it takes is one mistake to lose a W.

Kettle Run's coaching staff and players agreed that they thought they bested the Brentsville District boys' team on time of possession and overall ball control last Friday night in Nokesville (Prince William).

They matched the Tigers' speed with legs of their own with midfielders Tanner Carlton and Daniel Simpson helping to lead the way. Goal keeper Ryan Schmidt had a light night for the Cougars with less than five shots fired his way. When his teammates needed him to step up, he did. Even when Brentsville shots sailed wide, he lunged at them at full speed, hands over head as he pummeled to the ground.

But when a Kettle Run defender slipped during a Brentsville breakaway with about 21 minutes remaining in the second half, senior Trey Bright and junior Zach Willis took full advantage of the two-on-one situation and scored the game's only goal, leading the Tigers to a 1-0 home victory, their first of the season.

"We kept the ball in their half for most of the game," said Kettle Run junior captain Casey Cooke.

But as Cougar coach Philip Roper reckoned, "You can play really well and still end up on the wrong side."

During the scoring drive, Bright streaked down the left side of the field heading toward Schmidt. Without even looking, Bright booted the ball to Willis across the middle of the field, about a dozen feet in front of the goal.

"I used my speed, drove across and knew he was going to be there," said Bright.

Willis had time for one touch and tapped the assist into the back right corner of the net with his left foot despite Schmidt diving after the loose rock.

"He has a great ball that he (can) send" across the field, said Willis of Bright.

The Kettle Run (3-1 overall, 0-1 district) defense hung tough about 15 minutes later when a wall of Cougars blocked a free kick from just outside the goal box. But the Tigers kept finding ways to knock the visiting team off kilter during the final six minutes, including goal keeper Hunter Mihalick stealing the ball from a charging Andy Bourdeau and Brentsville winning possession after a collision deep in Tiger territory.

"I feel like we showed we wanted to win this game," said Bright.

Willis said Brentsville "knew" the Cougars "were going to be a whole new team" compared to last year and likewise changed their approach.

"We've been trying to get more offense into this game in particularly," said Willis.

Meanwhile, Roper approached the Brentsville team knowing they're more of a "possession" team compared to one that constantly attacks the goal.

And even with Kettle Run playing even or better against Brentsville in the possession department, Casey said one of his team's biggest issues was execution.

"We just need to put (shots) away more," he said. "We had a lot of open shots."