LYNN — In its final regular season game ahead of the state tournament, KIPP’s boys soccer team (9-6-3) was set back after a 2-1 loss to Minuteman, which scored two first-half goals.

KIPP controlled possession in the first half, but Minuteman made the most of its chances to lead. Panthers’ coach Josh Canales pointed to “a lack of energy.

“We came out comfortable and that translated into two goals against us,” Canales said. “Once we woke up, I think in that second half, we had like 90-95 percent possession in their half. It’s hard to come back, but we tried to rally the troops at halftime. I told them we need to stop playing to win and that in soccer, you can only score one at a time. It’s not basketball where we can shoot a 3-pointer. I hammered home that point that we had to take it one step at a time.” 

With “…one step at a time” in mind, KIPP looked like an entirely new group in the second half, firing shots from all over Manning Field. The Panthers’ first big chance came 16 minutes into the half when Anaias Lopez hit the post with a curling effort. 

Moments after the ding off the post, KIPP finally found its breakthrough. Jelder De Leon fired a curling effort from more than 25 yards out into the top corner.

“It was a phenomenal goal. He’s a rockstar. He and Cristian (Garcia Bermundez) are Division 1-level talents. They are our producers. When they woke up, they started to turn the game around,” Canales said. “We showed in the second half how technically sound we are. It was evident when the other team went to five at the back. They sat on their lead. Unfortunately, time wasn’t on our side in the second half.” 

Despite boatloads of pressure, the Panthers couldn’t find their equalizer.

Only time will tell if No. 14 KIPP falls out of the top 15. If so, that would mean a preliminary game in the Division 5 state tournament, while top 15 teams enjoy their byes.

Now that it’s win or go home, Canales said he wants his team to play for each other. 

“This is our last ride with this team. Eight of the 11 starters are seniors. My message is that we need to play for each other. Now, the next game is potentially our last, so I want to extend our season as far as we can go and want them to leave everything out on the field,” he said. “I want them to take in the moment because this is the last time some of these kids are going to play soccer at the high school level – or even soccer in general. I want them to take it in and be part of something beyond themselves.”