A second half of misfortunes doomed the Nebraska City boys’ soccer team last Thursday as the Pioneers pursued a program first at Waverly.

The Vikings scored four second half goals on the way to a 5-0 win.

Nebraska City has yet to beat the Vikings in program history, and, for the Pioneers to reach their goal for this season, that streak has to come to an end.

Waverly, a district foe, may turn out to be the team that stands between Nebraska City and its dreams of a state tournament berth.

For one half of Thursday’s game, the Pioneer team was in position to topple the Vikings and end the streak.

One Waverly score was the difference at the half. The Vikings posted a goal in the first six minutes before being held scoreless for the remainder of the period.

“I think we were ready for them,” said Coach Joe Mullarkey.

That was one half of soccer.

After halftime, the Pioneers ran into trouble and the Vikings ran away with the win, thus keeping their streak against Nebraska City intact.

Coach Mullarkey said the team didn’t falter due to a lack of effort during those final 40 minutes last Thursday.

The bounces and the breaks just seemed to be going to the Pioneers’ opponent.

“It was like we walked into a pit of quicksand,” Coach Mullarkey said. “The harder we fought, the worse it got.

“On that night, it seemed to be working in their favor.”

Nebraska City, which saw its record drop to 1-2, will return to action Tuesday for a 4 p.m. home game with Beatrice before playing in the latter half of a girls-boys home doubleheader against Blair. Action is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff.

Coach Mullarkey said the Waverly game should serve as a wake up call for his team.

The Pioneers played well and won their first game of the season against Norris.

Elkhorn topped the Pioneers in game two, but the Pioneer team made a good account of itself.

That might have led to a bit of complacency.

Coach Mullarkey said the team knows now that it must to continue to improve throughout the course of the season.

Offense ranks high on the list of items to improve.

“We’ve got to find a way to score,” Mullarkey said. “We’ve got to shoot the ball more.”