SNOW HILL — The Pam Pack soccer team looked well on its way to collecting its sixth-consecutive victory after taking a two-goal lead over Greene Central into the halftime break yesterday, but a second-half collapse saw Washington fall to the Rams, 5-4.

“It was a tale of two halves,” Washington head coach Jim Kozuch said. “The first half, I was really, really happy with the team. I thought we were patient, I thought we moved the ball around really well. Defensively, we looked awesome. The first half, I couldn’t have been more excited.”

Washington (7-4, 3-1 2A Eastern Carolina Conference) started the game brightly against Greene Central (5-4, 1-1 2A Eastern Carolina Conference), possessing the ball and controlling play. The Pam Pack struck first 15 minutes in, courtesy of Elvin Elizalde. The senior forward beat his defender to go in alone against the Rams’ goalkeeper, poking the ball past the onrushing goalie, handing Washington a 1-0 lead.

Washington doubled its lead from the penalty spot after Dawson Cox was fouled in the box. Tim Anglim stepped up to take the penalty kick, burying it to make the score 2-0 in the Pam Pack’s favor. Washington was in complete control of the game, but could’ve had more goals if not for some wayward finishing, which has been an issue for the team all season.

“I thought everything was fine and dandy. However, we missed numerous opportunities again in the first half,” Kozuch said. “We could’ve had, we probably should’ve had, four or five goals.”

The Rams made the Pam Pack rue its missed opportunities in the second half, scoring three goals to take the lead. Kozuch said he felt his team lost its momentum after Greene Central’s first two goals, but Graham Parker stepped up for Washington, scoring to tie the game at 3-3.

The Rams answered back with a goal of their own to take the lead at 4-3. But Washington’s players didn’t hang their heads after falling behind again. Defender Patrick Lovenberg, who was pushing forward in search of a goal, received the ball around 25 yards out from goal and ripped a shot that found its way through a crowded penalty box and into the back of the Greene Central goal. That made the score 4-4 with 10 minutes left.

It seemed like the Pam Pack had salvaged a draw, but the Rams scored on a 25-yard free kick with six minutes remaining to complete their second-half comeback.

“This one’s just tough to swallow,” Kozuch said. “Of course we coughed up a two-goal lead, but we fought back every single time. It’s just so deflating.”

This was the first real test for Washington’s new formation that uses a three-man backline, instead of the four-man line Washington’s used in the past. Kozuch said it was nice to see four goals scored with the new formation, but tweaks are needed to sort things out defensively.

“It’s so hard because we got what we wanted from it, we got the offense that we wanted. But I guess if we can work on it defensively then we’ll be all right,” Kozuch said. “We’re going to stick with it a little bit. We’re going to stay with that formation but we’re going to change a couple of players and see if that helps it out. I think it can be really successful, I really do.”

One of the players Kozuch said he wants to move around is defender Cody Pinkham.

“I’m not exactly sure where I’m going to move him (Pinkham) to, but I want to get him more touches on the ball,” Kozuch said. “I feel like he’s a great defender, but he’s got an offensive mind and he controls the ball well. He’s a guy I’m going to tweak a little bit. I’m not exactly sure where I’m going to put him, but we’re going to need a little bit more offense down the road. Somehow we got to try to finish (off chances).”