Frustrating.

Hazen soccer coach Ritch Gouk didn’t have to search long for a word to sum up the Highlanders’ season so far.

“We’re not playing as well as we should,” Gouk said. “We’ve got a bunch of individuals still trying to learn each other. It’s just a big growing issue. We’ve got to grow into each other.”

Hazen is 4-5 so far in league play and struggling to find a lineup that works.

The roster holds talent, but more than half the team is new and there are only five starters back from 2009.

Hazen has played a lot of close games, with losses coming to Evergreen, Mount Rainier, Kennedy, Foster and Highline by two goals or less.

“It’s encouraging to know we can play with them,” Gouk said. “But it’s discouraging we’ve had opportunities that we haven’t been able to put away.”

Balls just haven’t bounced the Highlanders’ way. In the opening minutes against Evergreen, Hazen nailed a shot off the top of the bar that bounced just wrong and didn’t go in.

“It was a turning point in that game and frustrating for the guys,” Gouk said.

Newcomer Sam Bunnell is leading the team in points with four goals and five assists. Jonathan Betancourt has four goals and two assists. Chris Howe has four goals.

Captains Israel Padilla, Patrick Zenka and Jacob Nestvold give the team solid leadership upon which to build.

“I think this team has an excellent chance to make it,” Gouk said. “We’ve just got to find the right combination to make things click.”