EGELSTON TOWNSHIP – A loss is always a loss, and any team that hopes to get good someday will never be content with it.

But some losses are better than others, and the Muskegon Riser’s women’s team had an encouraging experience on Friday despite falling 2-0 to Cap City FC at Oakridge High School.

The Risers, who are now 0-6 on the season, played their best game of the year and remained in the contest until the final minutes.

They played very good defense for most of the night, held the ball in the Cap City zone for a good part of the game, had a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal and got some very good goaltending. It was a huge improvement from their other home games.

The only thing the Risers didn’t do was score, and of course you have to do that to win in soccer or any sport.

“I think we played more composed,” said Risers Coach Deb Pekel. “We are finally figuring out how to play with each other. We still have a ways to go, but particularly in the second half we were the better team. It’s just hard when you can’t find the back of the net.

“For those players who have been able to show up for training and play on game days, there has been a progression. We know it’s a journey, and we appreciate the players for continuing to fight.”

The Risers trailed 1-0 at halftime, and that was only because of a defensive mistake.

They had a corner kick, which is supposed to be a prime opportunity to get the ball in front of the opponents’ net, but instead Cap City’s Maddie O’Farrell got the ball and outraced everyone over about three-quarters of the field and scored on a breakaway.

The Risers had quite a few opportunities to score in the second half, but just couldn’t make the right pass or put the right shot on net when they were close.

They remained in the game when goalie Braeleigh McCoy made an incredible diving save on a close-ranged shot in the latter part of the second half, keeping the score 1-0.

“It was a ball that was crossed to the middle, one of their forwards took a first touch, and I just had a reaction and jumped to my right,” McCoy said.

“I don’t know how she did that,” Pekel said about the big save. “Braeleigh played out of her mind tonight and kept us in the game. We’re very thankful she’s part of the squad.”

Cap City finally put an end to the Risers’ hopes in the closing minutes when O’Farrell scored her second goal on a long shot from about 15 yards out, on a tough angle to the left of the goal.

Despite the outcome, McCoy was impressed with how her team played and said she’s seeing definite progress.

“Tonight’s game really opened our eyes on how good we can be, especially when we all work together and are on the same page,” the goalie said. “Unfortunately it took most of the season to get there, but I think in future years the consistency will come.”