During the course of any soccer season, the injury bug invariably affects just about every team.

But the injury bug has bitten the Mehlville Senior High School girls’ soccer team in epidemic proportions. The Panthers currently have nine varsity players out due to injury or illness.

“From the beginning of the year, we lost a couple of players, and since then, it’s only gotten worse,” Mehlville head coach Scott Jackson told the Call. “The girls are really down in the dumps right now, but I think that we can close out the last seven games with five victories.”

The Panthers (3-10, 0-4 Suburban West) suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss Saturday at Seckman in a game that Jackson believed his players came with the intention to win.

“We played really well and lost,” Jackson said. “I was really disappointed because we battled and deserved to win. This was the first time that I think they were more upset (about the loss) than I was.”

Mehlville’s lone goal of the game came in the first half when sophomore forward Brittany Shelton scored her seventh goal of the season. Sophomore Erica Jolly received the assist on Shelton’s goal.

“Brittany scored on a bad angle, but found the net,” Jackson said. “She’s really improved since the offseason and has exceeded what we expected to get out of her this year.”

The Panthers are back in action at 7 p.m. Saturday when they play host to Parkway South (4-7-1, 1-3-1 Suburban West) in a game that features two of the Suburban West’s bottom-tiered teams.

Mehlville suffered a 4-1 loss last season at home to Parkway South, so Jackson knows that his players will have their hands full with the Patriots’ speed and aggressive play.

“I know that they (Parkway South) play pretty freely with some speed and will bang you around,” Jackson said. “But I also know that they’re struggling like we are.”