“After winning their first three games of the young season the Falcon soccer team was tripped up following a long trip to Meridian on Saturday.The host Trojans were the best team the Falcons have faced to date, and Falcon coach Paul Arand expects them to be among the contenders when North Cascades Conference play officially begins next month.But we played well enough to beat them, Arand said. They’re coming to our place in October.The lady Trojans went ahead 1-0 early, but then the Falcons tied it when Jaci Gutzmer netted a penalty shot awarded to the team when a Trojan tripped Shannon Skouras as she was driving to the goal. Gutzmer’s shot made it 1-1.In the second half the Falcons suffered a setback when sophomore Michelle Shorr banged her head on the ground with about 5 minutes to play. Not only did the Falcons lose a defender, but Shorr’s condition was worrisome, as she stayed down for several minutes. It shook up the team a little bit, but she’ll be fine, Arand said on Monday. Meridian went on to score the final goal and South Whidbey’s record dropped to 3-1.In home and away matches against Mariner last week, the Falcons prevailed both times. In the first game Scouras scored both goals for South Whidbey, one in the first half and one in the second half, for a 2-0 win. In JV action that day, Amy Barrow scored a goal to lead the Falcons to a 1-0 win.In game two against Mariner, the varsity Falcons again displayed shutout defense, winning 3-0. Jaime Dunsmore scored two goals and Dannette Waterman scored one.Arand expressed satisfaction with the Falcon defense over the week, which allowed only 7 shots on goal at Mariner and 15 at Meridian. As a result, keeper Kellie Horn, a sophomore, hasn’t had to face any offensive onslaughts. With such a strong defense she hasn’t been tested that much yet, he said.This week the Falcons stay on the road. Tuesday they traveled to Sultan and Thursday they play at Lakewood. “