• Rubi Reyes •
• Originally published January 17, 2009 at 11:44 p.m., updated January 17, 2009 at 11:44 p.m.

GEORGETOWN - Goals and wins have been hard to come by for the Memorial soccer team in the first six games of the season.

The Vipers (1-5) have only scored five goals and have lost five straight games after dropping a 1-0 Governor's Cup contest to Austin Anderson at the McMaster Athletic Complex on Saturday.

Staying healthy has also been a challenge for the Vipers. Memorial played without three starters against the Trojans (8-1-1) and were forced to adjust its lineup throughout the three-day stay in Georgetown.

"If it would have been one player then it would have been easier to adjust, but when it's your entire starting defense that's very difficult," Memorial head coach Tim Eaton said. "Having to move players around has been a reason why our scoring is down at the start of the season. When everyone is healthy the scoring will come. I think we are going to have to be patient. I think our team knows that we can score. We are just going to have to start getting some goals pretty soon."

Austin Elsik and Luke Tibbits share the team lead with two goals each this season, while Mauricio Torres found the net in the Vipers' 4-2 loss at the Comal Cup against New Braunfels Canyon. Tibbits scored Memorial's only goal in the Governor's Cup in a 4-1 loss on Friday to Round Rock.

Tibbits remains confident in the Vipers' ability to put goals on the board this year, but knows that getting everyone healthy and back in condition is the first step in doing so.

"We had some new guys up top and that was an adjustment," said Tibbits, whose Vipers put 16 shots on the Trojans goalkeeper in the shutout loss. "We can't worry about the past and what we should have done. We have to move forward and focus on our next game. When we get our health back we should be in good position."

Moving forward begins Tuesday for the Vipers. Memorial hosts its first game of the season at 7 p.m. against Bay City at Memorial Stadium, one week before starting District 27-5A play. The Vipers lost only one district game last season en route to a district championship and the right to host two playoff games last season.

To repeat that accomplishment, the players know they are going to have to overcome whatever is thrown their way.

"I know the injuries has a lot to do with it, but we're going to have to start focusing more when we're on offense," Memorial's Jordan Sewalt said. "We are going to have to practice on our weak points and start getting some goals."

Eaton believes the experience of playing in the Comal Cup and Governor's Cup will come back to help the Vipers this season. The team played against strong competition in both places and stayed with some of the top teams in the state.

"The speed of play that we've seen in these tournaments has been great for us," Eaton said. "Every game was like playing a first-place type of team. We can't get that just anywhere and I think it will give us the seasoning to be successful."

Lady Vipers go 0-3

ROUND ROCK - Memorial's girls soccer team dropped three straight games at the Round Rock tournament after going 4-0 and winning the VISD Crossroads tournament last weekend.

Memorial (4-3) took a 3-0 loss from Highland Park on Saturday to end the tournament after falling 4-0 to Austin Bowie and 1-0 to Round Rock McNeil on Friday.

Goalkeeper Korey Schroeder came up with 33 saves in the tournament, including an 11-save performance against Highland Park.

• Governor's Cup - Georgetown

  (Pool play)

  Thursday

  Georgetown 1, Memorial 0

  Friday

  Round Rock 4, Memorial 1

  Saturday

  Austin Anderson 1, Memorial 0

  Up next

  Bay City at Memorial, Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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