It’s been a rough start to the 2021 season for the Loons as the team added a third loss to their results. Minnesota United is now the only team in MLS without a point. It’s bad but the only way to go from here is up and the team knows it.

“We’re disappointed with the results,” said midfielder Hassani Dotson. “But we have to focus on the next one and try not to let the past negative feelings affect this next opportunity to get our first point and hopefully our first win of the season.”

The Loons know the past is the past and they need to work harder to get the results they want. It’s not that the team doesn’t have the right players to do the jobs that they need to do, it’s simply trying to get the team into shape and build their confidence.

“We’ve identified certain areas that we think we can improve on, but ultimately we need to get everybody fit and healthy, I think that will help us,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “But more importantly, trying to keep the belief within the group, belief in what we’re doing, belief in what we’ve done over the last two years is right and hopefully catch a break. But we know there’s nobody coming with a magic wand. We’ve got to keep working hard on the training field, try and identify what we think is going wrong and rectify that.”

During training this week, it seemed like the Loons’ belief was restored. The team was focusing on finishing drills, possession and passing drills. Players who haven’t had a chance to get too much playing time yet had the opportunity to play a scrimmage and execute everything they learned in training.

“It all starts in practice,” said rookie forward Patrick Weah. “Investing as much as possible, learn as much as possible, and work as much as possible. When coach is ready to call on me and I’m ready, I’m prepared both mentally and physically.”

The rookie was definitely ready when he made his debut this past weekend against Austin FC. The 17-year-old showed his desire with a goal opportunity on his first touch.

“He nearly came on and scored a goal,” said Heath. “He’s proven that, even in preseason when he got a few goals for us, when he’s on the field, he’s got a knack for finding good spots in the box.”

At just 17, Weah is living the dream of every youth soccer player — playing professional soccer and debuting in his home state in front of his friends and family.

“It was a dream come true,” said Weah. “My whole life I’ve been working on it and always been visualizing and stuff and just waiting for that moment to come. And finally, coach took a chance on me and put me in and it was a great moment for me and my family.”

The energy that Weah brings, along with all of the other young players, is something that the team is realizing they can take advantage of. After all, everyone wants the team to achieve not only their first win, but to get to where they were last season.

“We have a lot of good talent, a lot of young, up-and-coming talent,” said Dotson. “Patrick [Weah] came on and did well and there’s others that haven’t played yet that have been pretty good in training.”

With the next game being an away match for the Loons, the pressure is on. It’s not going to be easy to get a win on the road, but there’s no time for excuses now.

In the last 20 years, only six teams have started with three losses and made it to the playoffs. Will the Loons be the seventh team to join?