BonnerSprings.com

Shawnee Mission Northwest's boys soccer team proved a number of things during its season-opening performance at the Olathe Tournament.

For one thing, the Cougars are wildly entertaining to watch. They zip up and down the field at a rapid pace and constantly pester the opposing goal with a blend of athleticism, aggression and power.

The more notable trait that revealed itself during the tournament, however, is that the Cougars are remarkably resilient. It's one thing to shrug off a one-goal deficit once in a while. The Coguars did it three times in the tournament — against stout competition — and emerged victorious.

After beating Park Hill (Mo.) 2-0 in the tournament opener, the Cougars rallied from one-goal deficits twice in the semifinals before ousting Olathe South 3-2 in double-overtime.

They then shrugged off a frustrating first half in the finals against Olathe Northwest where they had two goals taken off the board. They fell behind early in the second half, and that's when they immediately responded with a fireworks display of goals. Every few minutes the Cougars put another ball in the back of the net. Their four-goal surge turned a thriller into a 4-1 trouncing.

Yes, there's a lot of fight in this bunch, and that's particularly impressive considering this was the first tournament of the season. It's the foundation for the season, and the fact that the Cougars already know they can overcome deficits, score in bunches and create ways to win is something that will stick with them throughout the year.

No lead will be safe against the Cougars this season. That should make future SMNW opponents uneasy, and it should make Cougar fans excited about what this team might accomplish in early November.