FOREST HILLS NORTHERN 1 - CEDAR SPRINGS 0
HUSKIES CLOSER TO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 1-0 WIN AT CEDAR SPRINGS
Playing for six of their missing teammates, the Huskies pulled together and inched closer to their first conference championship in 10 years with a 1-0 win on the road at Cedar Springs.
The Huskies were playing without starting defenders Jace Mitcham and Olivia Griffith who are both nursing injuries. Freshman Andrea Zandee and Sophomore Danielle Harrison stepped up and played key rolls on the Huskies defensive line in place of the injured starters. The Huskies also inserted freshman Robyn Wujkowski into the starting line up to play a key roll for the injured sophomore, Teigan Mitcham. “The girls who stepped up and into these key rolls played an outstanding game” Head Coach Jamie Bogart stated. Another freshman seized the moment as Alex Fraser stepped into the starting line up and never left the game. Fraser started in place of senior Andrea Byl who was attending an Orchestra concert. “Alex played possibly her best game of the season. She earned high marks for her play on the field tonight. And that’s from both our coaching staff and the staff of Cedar Springs” Bogart continued “Alex was a difference maker tonight”
Frasers strong play allowed for senior central middy, Madeline Rammal to focus more on the offensive side of the ball. Between the two central middy’s the Huskies controlled the midfield and kept the ball moving with timely passes, spirited defensive pressure and brilliant movement off the ball. These two combined with junior Maria rich to keep the pressure on the Red Hawks defense and possession of the ball. “I can’t say enough about the play of both of our center mids tonight. They were awesome!! Maria showed why she is one of the top players in the state tonight. Her touch was on, her passing was on, but more importantly her leadership and heart showed through” Bogart stated.
Even with all these girls stepping up, no one seized the moment more than freshman Ashley Lang. Lang was called up from JV as the teams were boarding the bus and made the most of her opportunity. Stepping on the field for her first ever varsity game experience, Lang collected a ball off the cross bar and simply “Passed” the ball into the lower right corner of the goal for the only goal of the game. “Unbelievable!! Ashley made our decisions as a coaching staff to bring her up a great one” Bogart said of the freshman. Lang was in position because of movement off the ball and crashing the goal allowing her to be in the “Right place at the Right time”. While Lang was getting into position, the Huskies possessed the ball beautiful on the right wing. Junior Maria Rich and Freshman Robyn Wujkowski were able to control the ball between the two of them in a tightly contested corner of the field. The Red Hawks were all over the two Huskies, pinning them in the corner. It was however the Huskies who would prevail out of the tight space and Wujkowski was able to find a wide open Madeline Rammal. Rammal took a touch and fired a 30 yard ball at the goal. The ball sailed over the Cedar Springs goalkeeper Sara Sowerwine’s head and dipped down towards the goal. The ball hit off the cross bar and through Sowerwine’s hands and to the foot of Ashley Lang. Lang finished the play off which caused a temporary celebration for the Huskies and their fans. “The whole play was will delivered. Maria and Robyn worked their tails off as did Madeline to get open and in position to fire that shot. And Ashley, I can’t say enough about her effort.” Bogart stated.
The Goal would come at about the 23 minute mark of the first half. The Huskies would come out after half-time having a focus on defense. However the focus started to lack with about 10 minutes left in the game. The Red Hawks upped their pressure, changed their formation and put the Huskies on their heels for the final 10 minutes. Junior goalkeeper Kristiana Griffith came up with 3 big saves in the closing 10 minutes to help close out the Red Hawks. No save was bigger than shutting down and stoning a Cedar Springs Break Away with less than three minutes left in the game. “That save was not only a game saver but may have helped us win the conference. They (The Red Hawks) were all over us in the final 8 or so minutes and KG (Kristiana Griffith) came up HUGE. I couldn’t be more proud of KG tonight she was fighting through a little illness and she simply OWNED the box in the final 10 minutes” Bogart said of his junior keeper who is on the verge of committing to Taylor University.
As the closing seconds closed, there wouldn’t be a whole lot of celebration on the part of the Huskies, but more or less the understanding of the fact the job is not over. With the win the Huskies take a two game lead in the conference with three games left to play. The win is also huge for the Huskies who have not won a game at Red Hawk Stadium since beating Petoskey 5-1 in the Regional semi-finals 4 years ago. The win would end the three game skid in Cedar Springs. The Huskies lost to Forest Hills Central in the Regional Finals 4 years ago and lost twice last year; once to Cedar Springs in the regular season and to Bay City John Glenn in the Regional’s.
“Kat Krukowski, Becca Quinn…I can’t say enough about the effort of our defense tonight. But the composure and smart decisions they brought to us in the back helped us get this win.” Bogart would continue about his entire team “I am starting to like this Adversity thing. Our girls are looking at it right in the eye and just smile and beat it. I couldn’t be more proud of how this team has come together and just fights for each other. They have simply amazed me!!”
With the win, the Huskies move their record to 11 wins, 3 losses and a tie and have an 11 and 0 mark in the conference. The Huskies have also upped their goal total to 64 goals in the conference while only giving up 4 and hold a 2 game lead over Cedar Springs and a 3 game lead over Coopersville. To see a full list of the standings click here.
The Huskies return home on Tuesday, May 18th for Senior Night against conference rival Coopersville. The Varsity game is set to start at 6:40pm while the JV game will start at 5:00pm. The Senior night festivities will begin around 6:30pm.
The Huskies were playing without starting defenders Jace Mitcham and Olivia Griffith who are both nursing injuries. Freshman Andrea Zandee and Sophomore Danielle Harrison stepped up and played key rolls on the Huskies defensive line in place of the injured starters. The Huskies also inserted freshman Robyn Wujkowski into the starting line up to play a key roll for the injured sophomore, Teigan Mitcham. “The girls who stepped up and into these key rolls played an outstanding game” Head Coach Jamie Bogart stated. Another freshman seized the moment as Alex Fraser stepped into the starting line up and never left the game. Fraser started in place of senior Andrea Byl who was attending an Orchestra concert. “Alex played possibly her best game of the season. She earned high marks for her play on the field tonight. And that’s from both our coaching staff and the staff of Cedar Springs” Bogart continued “Alex was a difference maker tonight”
Frasers strong play allowed for senior central middy, Madeline Rammal to focus more on the offensive side of the ball. Between the two central middy’s the Huskies controlled the midfield and kept the ball moving with timely passes, spirited defensive pressure and brilliant movement off the ball. These two combined with junior Maria rich to keep the pressure on the Red Hawks defense and possession of the ball. “I can’t say enough about the play of both of our center mids tonight. They were awesome!! Maria showed why she is one of the top players in the state tonight. Her touch was on, her passing was on, but more importantly her leadership and heart showed through” Bogart stated.
Even with all these girls stepping up, no one seized the moment more than freshman Ashley Lang. Lang was called up from JV as the teams were boarding the bus and made the most of her opportunity. Stepping on the field for her first ever varsity game experience, Lang collected a ball off the cross bar and simply “Passed” the ball into the lower right corner of the goal for the only goal of the game. “Unbelievable!! Ashley made our decisions as a coaching staff to bring her up a great one” Bogart said of the freshman. Lang was in position because of movement off the ball and crashing the goal allowing her to be in the “Right place at the Right time”. While Lang was getting into position, the Huskies possessed the ball beautiful on the right wing. Junior Maria Rich and Freshman Robyn Wujkowski were able to control the ball between the two of them in a tightly contested corner of the field. The Red Hawks were all over the two Huskies, pinning them in the corner. It was however the Huskies who would prevail out of the tight space and Wujkowski was able to find a wide open Madeline Rammal. Rammal took a touch and fired a 30 yard ball at the goal. The ball sailed over the Cedar Springs goalkeeper Sara Sowerwine’s head and dipped down towards the goal. The ball hit off the cross bar and through Sowerwine’s hands and to the foot of Ashley Lang. Lang finished the play off which caused a temporary celebration for the Huskies and their fans. “The whole play was will delivered. Maria and Robyn worked their tails off as did Madeline to get open and in position to fire that shot. And Ashley, I can’t say enough about her effort.” Bogart stated.
The Goal would come at about the 23 minute mark of the first half. The Huskies would come out after half-time having a focus on defense. However the focus started to lack with about 10 minutes left in the game. The Red Hawks upped their pressure, changed their formation and put the Huskies on their heels for the final 10 minutes. Junior goalkeeper Kristiana Griffith came up with 3 big saves in the closing 10 minutes to help close out the Red Hawks. No save was bigger than shutting down and stoning a Cedar Springs Break Away with less than three minutes left in the game. “That save was not only a game saver but may have helped us win the conference. They (The Red Hawks) were all over us in the final 8 or so minutes and KG (Kristiana Griffith) came up HUGE. I couldn’t be more proud of KG tonight she was fighting through a little illness and she simply OWNED the box in the final 10 minutes” Bogart said of his junior keeper who is on the verge of committing to Taylor University.
As the closing seconds closed, there wouldn’t be a whole lot of celebration on the part of the Huskies, but more or less the understanding of the fact the job is not over. With the win the Huskies take a two game lead in the conference with three games left to play. The win is also huge for the Huskies who have not won a game at Red Hawk Stadium since beating Petoskey 5-1 in the Regional semi-finals 4 years ago. The win would end the three game skid in Cedar Springs. The Huskies lost to Forest Hills Central in the Regional Finals 4 years ago and lost twice last year; once to Cedar Springs in the regular season and to Bay City John Glenn in the Regional’s.
“Kat Krukowski, Becca Quinn…I can’t say enough about the effort of our defense tonight. But the composure and smart decisions they brought to us in the back helped us get this win.” Bogart would continue about his entire team “I am starting to like this Adversity thing. Our girls are looking at it right in the eye and just smile and beat it. I couldn’t be more proud of how this team has come together and just fights for each other. They have simply amazed me!!”
With the win, the Huskies move their record to 11 wins, 3 losses and a tie and have an 11 and 0 mark in the conference. The Huskies have also upped their goal total to 64 goals in the conference while only giving up 4 and hold a 2 game lead over Cedar Springs and a 3 game lead over Coopersville. To see a full list of the standings click here.
The Huskies return home on Tuesday, May 18th for Senior Night against conference rival Coopersville. The Varsity game is set to start at 6:40pm while the JV game will start at 5:00pm. The Senior night festivities will begin around 6:30pm.