New lineup, same result: Lights’ loss

Still searching for his team’s first win since early August and with it playing on short rest, Lights FC coach Isidro Sanchez opted to shake up his lineup Saturday as promised after a loss on Wednesday.

Only three starters from Wednesday’s 5-3 defeat to Orange County SC started for the Lights on Saturday and most notably, Las Vegan Thomas Olsen got his first start in net in place of starter Ricardo Ferrino, who surrendered all five goals in Wednesday’s loss.

But the shake-up didn’t change the result for the Lights, who fell 1-0 to Oklahoma City Energy FC on Saturday night at Cashman Field.

Olsen was barely tested in the first half as the Lights (7-17-7) had possession nearly 60 percent of the half.

The Lights put more pressure on OKC (12-14-6) keeper Cody Laurendi throughout the game, outshooting Oklahoma City 25-12, but Laurendi repeatedly saved his team from trouble, making tough saves all night.

Olsen, who faced considerably less pressure, made a nice save in the 63rd minute, stopping a Deshorn Brown attempt before being beat by a wide-open Brown in the 74th minute for the match’s only goal.

The Lights appeared to have scored in the 82nd minute but the goal was waived off because of an offsides call.

The low-scoring affair was in stark contrast to the high-scoring 6-4 loss the Lights suffered the last time the two teams played in July on the road.

The loss extends the Lights’ winless streak to 10 games. The Lights have lost eight of those games with two draws.