Over the last week and a half, Decatur High School girls soccer has been going through a rough patch.

Decatur has now lost three out of its last four games after losing to Enumclaw 3-1 on Oct. 8 at Federal Way Memorial Field.

“We do need to pick some things up. But I have been telling them I don’t care about the league, it’s just about getting to the playoffs. It’s a whole new season from there,” Head Coach Sean Davis said.

Admittedly it has been against two of the top teams in White River and Enumclaw, but Decatur sees itself as a top team in the NPSL along with those two teams. Especially as the reigning NPSL champions.

Decatur got off on the right foot as it appeared that the Gators might be back to their old selves. Kaihea Tuifua, Amani Hussen and the Suazo sisters were all distributing the ball efficiently and effectively. The Gators were rewarded in the 26th minute as a shot from Tuifua bounced off the cross bar and appeared to go over the line, but Juliana Delucio was there to finish it off and was credited with the goal.

The game’s first goal was a result of multiple shots on target and asking a lot of questions of Kami Bullock in goal. Bullock answered the bell on every opportunity except the Delucio goal as Decatur took their only lead of the game.

“Their keeper made some good saves, we had some chances. The finishing has to be there,” Davis said.

Amani Hussen protects the ball from an Enumclaw player. Ben Ray / The Mirror

Enumclaw answered right back and the Hornets found some life down the right side of the field. Clare Lagent was there to put the finishing touches on the Hornets’ first goal and Decatur was never able to recover.

“The first half they came out flying, that was great. It would have been nice if we kept the lead at halftime,” Davis said.

The Decatur attack struggled in the second half after such a brilliant first half. But there were some traits from that end of the first half that carried over into the second. The main problem on the attacking side was the spacing of Decatur’s attackers.

In the first 30 minutes, Decatur did a really good job of spreading out the field, forcing Enumclaw’s defense to be very wide, creating gaps and space for Tuifua and Hussen to create chances on goal. But late in the first half, the attack got very concentrated and clustered right around the penalty area. This allowed Enumclaw defenders to defend a much smaller area and took up the space that Decatur had done such a good job creating.

It was a fairly physical game against the Hornets, with each side receiving over three yellow cards and both coaches receiving yellow cards as well. Playoff soccer is physical by nature and a game like this, albeit a loss, can help prepare Decatur for what is to come.

“When we play Enumclaw, White River and other teams in the league it is like a playoff game. It’s going to be physical, fast-paced for 80 minutes. That is just the way it is going to be. It’s great having multiple good teams in the league. It helps prepare you if you make playoffs … It is one of those things you just have to match,” Davis said.

Lavinia Suazo looks for a teammate to pass to for Decatur. Ben Ray / The Mirror

In the second half, Enumclaw scored two goals on two set pieces. Decatur lost a game a week prior to White River on a corner kick, and set pieces have come back to bite Decatur late. Davis is taking it upon himself to coach the group up.

“Right now it’s just set pieces. White River scored on us on a set piece to lose the game and tonight we had two set pieces to lose the game,” Davis said. “That is something I clarified with them and we are going to start working on that. We gotta get that part done.”

Bristal Markus took the lead over Decatur in the 65th minute and Sutton Kelsey in association with Camryn Puryer put the icing on the cake for the Hornets’ 3-1 win.

Decatur sits in third place with a one point lead over Kentlake in that third position. Decatur has five games left this season and a match up with Kentlake and White River still to go.

“Coach Dom (Dismuke) and I just keep trying to remind them to stay positive with each other. These things are going to go against us at times and with us at at times. We just don’t know when those times will be. So we just keep trying to pump that into them,” Davis said.