HUGHESVILLE — You could see the frustration boiling over on nearly every shot attempt in the final minutes of the game. In the span of 30 seconds, the Spartans had their opportunities.

Carter Sherwood had a chance from 10 yards out and sent a shot to the far right post, only to see it go narrowly wide. The ensuing corner kick found itself at the feet of Sherwood, who had a shot from outside the 18, only to see Xander Goudreau catch it and prevent a goal.

Sherwood slammed his fist on the grass at Raymond H. Perritt Stadium, perfectly capturing the frustration of the team not being able to get that goal to cross the plane.

In the end, Selinsgrove left Hughesville with a 3-1 win, handing the Spartans their third loss of the year while the Seals remain undefeated (3-0).

“I think they came out flying and they were ready to capitalize on their opportunities, but a couple of mistakes they were held up on at first that we didn’t recover from,” Hughesville coach Cole Lesher said. “I told them open the flood gates, the past doesn’t define us, it only shapes us. I think getting into that mindset has been tough for them for years. They may have been willing to hang their heads or unsure if they could do it, but it showed a lot of drive and fight. I’m proud of them.”

The Spartans kept pressuring and fighting to get goals in the second half. Hughesville fired seven second-half shots — four on goal — but just couldn’t get one past goalie Goudreau.

With 20:05 to play in the second half, Hughesville’s Carter Gormont had a great chance from outside the 18 with a look at the goal and tried going to the left upper 90, but the shot went just wide. Four minutes later, Gormont again had a chance with a 1-v-1 look with the goalie from just outside the 6-yard box, but Gormont’s shot attempt went right to Goudreau who blocked it and preserved a 3-1 lead and didn’t allow momentum to shift away.

Hughesville’s last chance to score came in the final 4:06 when Sherwood had his two shot attempts in succession get denied by going wide and being caught.

“As much as it’s upsetting, sure we’d like a win here, but I’m very proud of them for the mentality,” Lesher said. “That’s huge. It speaks volumes about their character and shows going forward that we have a ceiling that’s a lot higher than they realize.”

The Seals got on the board less than two minutes into the game when Nick Bisaccia got inside the 18 and fired a solid shot to the left far post for a 1-0 lead. However Hughesville was awarded a penalty kick due to an excessive celebration by Selinsgrove and Landon Miller buried his shot to the right to tie the game immediately after the Seals went ahead.

The Spartans defense and goalie Royce Gardner played well until the Seals broke through with 20:57 to play in the game. That’s when Bisaccia got into Hughesville’s third and used great footwork to keep possession and spin around a sliding Hughesville defender and sent a shot to the left near post as he cut inside.

“Very tough if I’m being honest (defending Bisaccia). As a former defender myself, he’s very shifty, he knows where to go, he’s looking for the angles. That’s what I tell the guys, they really have to focus in on team defense and helping,” Lesher said. “You can’t say one guys going to do it, you have to think I’ll support him if he misses it. That’s things we can improve on. No disrespect to him, he’s a great player and definitely a big impact with the team.”

The Seals’ final goal came with 2:51 to play until halftime when Selinsgrove took advantage of some miscues. Bobby Kruskie got inside of the 18, past Hughesville’s goalie who came out, and sent a shot to an open net that the nearest Spartan defender wasn’t able to chase down and save in time for a 3-1 lead.

Gardner made solid blocks and stops throughout the game, however, including not allowing another Selinsgrove goal in the second half.

“Royce, he stepped up. This is his first year in goal, .. but he stepped up to the plate and has been working,” Lesher said of his keeper. “He’s really willing to get his body in there too. Going out, all in and being willing to sacrifice for the play is huge, his mentality. It speaks volume.

Selinsgrove 3, Hughesville 1

S–Nick Bisaccia, 38:16. H–Landon Miller (penalty kick), 38:16. S–Bisaccia, 20:57. S–Bobby Kruskie, 2:51.

Shots: S 6, H 7. Corners: S 4, H 4. Saves: S 5 (Xander Goudreau), H 4 (Royce Gardner).

Records: Selinsgrove (3-0), Hughesville (2-3).