Barrington High School boys soccer coach Don Denham said his team arrived late for the game against Dartmouth (Mass.) last week and hurried through an abbreviated warm-up session.

The late arrival, he said, resulted in a sluggish start for the Eagles and an early 1-0 deficit on the scoreboard. 

Barrington stormed back to tie the game in the second half, Denham said. The Eagles also had a number of scoring chances, but were unable to convert any of the opportunities. And with 13 minutes remaining in the contest, Dartmouth scored and held on for the victory. 

“I think this team is still trying to figure out how to be successful for the full 80 minutes,” Denham said.

The Eagles looked to be on their way to that complete game as they powered to a 3-0 lead against Cumberland on Sept. 23.

“We were in total control of the game,” Denham said. 

“Then we shut down.”

The Clippers scored twice and continued to pressure the Eagles. Denham said that if it was not for BHS goalie Cooper Robertson making an unbelievable diving save, the Eagles might have lost the lead, and possibly the game. 

In a game against Barnstable (Mass.), Barrington sprinted out to an early lead — the Eagles had been able to have a full warm-up — and finished with a 5-2 victory.

“That was probably the most complete game we played,” Denham said. 

Barrington traveled to New York late last month for games against Kellenberg High School, and St. Anthony’s. The Eagles tied Kellenberg 2-2 and lost to St. Anthony’s 4-0. Denham said his team was missing six key players in the game against St. Anthony’s. 

Denham said he continues to preach a message of competing for the full 80 minutes and not falling into lapses. 

“That’s the conversation: ‘How do we play 80 minutes?’” Denham said. “We’re tying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.”

On Saturday, Barrington celebrated a key victory, defeating Cranston West 3-0. The win improved Barrington’s record to 6-4-1 and propelled the Eagles into fourth place in Division I rankings. Cranston West fell into 10th place with a record of 2-5-3.

The Eagles will travel to East Providence on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for a 6:30 p.m. game against the Townies.