The challenge is clear, as Dave Hanson sees it:

For the Jefferson Raiders to realize their full potential before the boys soccer season ends, they need to play a full game.

That didn’t happen on Tuesday night in the long-awaited South Puget Sound League North Division showdown between TJ and Kentwood. After an opening 40 minutes of punch-counterpunch, the Raiders yielded two goals during the final 40 and dropped a 2-0 decision to the Conquerors at French Field.

“It was a good game – the first half was solid,” Hanson said. “We lost a bit of composure in the second half, and it cost us.

“I’d like to be able to put two full halves together.”

Even so, the division title is still well within TJ’s reach. At 6-2-2 with 20 points, the Raiders are five points behind division-leading Kentwood (8-1-1, 25 points). Both teams have four games left, including a rematch on Wednesday at Federal Way Stadium, a game that was scheduled for March 28, but as postponed because the field was blanketed with snow.

Jefferson also had a rematch Friday against Decatur (results unavailable).The Gators handed TJ its first league loss of the season, 2-1 back on March 31, on a goal in the 79th minute.

“I think we can come back from this OK next week,” Hanson said.

Jefferson and Kentwood each got off eight shots during the first half, including one apiece that could have found the back of the net, but didn’t.

Then, the Conquerors came out and controlled the run of play through the opening stages of the second half.

Ironically, it wasn’t on the attack, but rather on a quick counterattack that Kentwood got on the board. Jefferson had just missed a chance to take the lead when a shot by Cody Harris from the top of the box slid barely wide of the left post.

Then, as the Raiders were trying to head back downfield after the ensuing goal kick by Kentwood keeper Mitch Pombrio, Conner Biggs swiped the ball just over midfield and flew wide-open down the left wing side. He took it into the box and let fly with a low sizzler from about 14 yards away that zipped into the far corner at 59:36 for his second goal of the season.

Jefferson nearly tied it right at the start of the 66th minute when a long throw-in from the left side deep in Kentwood territory was headed toward the upper right V. Pombrio leaped just in time to deflect it away.

Less two minutes later, the Conquerors sealed the deal. A three-man break down the field was thwarted by the Raiders, but Bryan Carlson held the ball in on the left side. He crossed it all the way over to Andrew Wright, who was alone inside the box on the right wing. Wright launched a riser that went way into the upper left corner, well beyond the reach of TJ keeper Adam Duke.

By the final whistle, Kentwood had handed the Raiders their first shutout in league play and just their second of the season.

“The first half, we frustrated them,” Hanson said. “But we made some mistakes in the second half.”

Kentwood was anticipating the match-up every bit as much as the Raiders were. Jefferson was the preseason consensus favorite as the team to beat in the North.

“I picked TJ as the top team, and our team knew that,” KW coach Aaron Radford said. “We’ve been ready to play it and see how well we can match up against the challenge.”