FOREST HILLS NORTHERN 8 - COMSTOCK PARK 0
HUSKIES STRUGGLE BUT STILL PULL OFF 8-0 MERCY ON THE ROAD
Monday night, the Huskies traveled to Comstock Park for a conference match up with the Panthers. The Huskies, coming back from a four day break from soccer, overcame a sluggish start, inconsistent passing and battled a field that had very tall and thick grass for an 8 to 0 win. “The last time we played on a field like this, it didn’t turn out to well for us” Head Coach Jamie Bogart continued “We stressed the point of being confident with our passing and make sure the ball gets to their target”.
It would take the Huskies almost 8 minutes before they were able to break through with a goal. Sophomore Teigan Mitcham connected on nice back door pass from Junior Maria Rich. The Huskies would score a few minutes later, as Sophomore Olivia Griffith put a shot off the crossbar. Luckily for the Huskies, the ball bounced to the foot of Maria Rich who placed a nice rolling ball into the low left corner of the goal. These two goals marked the 10th goal of the season for Mitcham while Rich recorded her 6th.
The Huskies would go for almost 16 minutes before scoring again, but not without having opportunities. The Huskies had 3 goals called back due to offside calls. “The plays in which we were called offside on, were good plays. It was just the fact we had an inexperience striker up top at that time” Bogart said. Sophomore Olivia Griffith who is normally a defender was whistled for the three offside calls which resulted in goals being called back.
The Huskies would get 5 goals in the next 8 minutes to break the game wide open. Junior Maria Rich would get the scoring started once again as she received a pass from Sophomore Carly Belsito. Belsito received a great through ball from senior co-captain Andrea Byl, beat one defender and crossed the ball. Rich collected the ball, made one more and fired the ball into the goal. The goal was the Juniors 7th of the season. Rich would be a part of the fourth goal as she assisted on an Andrea Byl goal. A nice one/two combination play at the top of the box between Rich and Byl lead to the Huskies 4th goal. Rich would leave the game at this point finishing with 2 goals and 2 assists on the day. “There is a reason why Maria is such a special player. She came off the field earlier in the game frustrated with her play, but took it upon herself to watch the game and recognize the weak spots in the Panther defense. She understood we just needed to shoot the ball” Bogart said of the 3rd team all-state player. “When she went back in, she was a difference maker and when she is on, our team is on”.
The Huskies fed off of the energy that Rich brought to the game. Junior goalkeeper Kristiana Griffith spent some time playing on the field and took full advantage of her time. Griffith found Freshman winger Robyn Wujkowski making a run back door and played a ball through the Panther defense. Wujkowski would collect the ball and cut it back to the middle before striking the ball past the Panther keeper from about 14 yards out. Griffith would also assist on the next goal as she was able to find senior Jace Mitcham on a similar play that she had with Wujkowski. Mitchams goal would be her first of the year. “One of our team goals each year is to have every girl on the team score a goal, we had four girls that needed to score yet coming into the game, and Mitcham was one of these girls”. Bogart continued “We were able to check one of the four off the list”.
The Huskies would add two more goals in the closing minutes of the first half to reach the 8-0 mercy rule. Junior Brenna Sellman received a pass from fellow junior, Sophie Rammal, made one more and placed the ball into the side netting for the 7-0 lead. Rammal would hook up with Sophomore Olivia Griffith with just less than 4 minutes left in the half. The goal would turn out to be the goal of the night or even year for that matter. Freshman Lindsay Rich was able to find Rammal on the right hand side who broke past a Panther defender and played a lofted ball into the box at about the PK spot. Griffith out leaped the Panther defense and headed the ball just over the outstretched hands of the Panther keeper and snuck it under the cross bar. “The ball that was played in was beautiful, the goal just as spectacular” Bogart commented. “Olivia’s header looked like something you would see in the EPL. It had power, it had placement, it had excitement…..It was that good!!”
Griffith’s goal would be the 8th goal for the Huskies with just under 4 minutes left to play in the first half. The Huskies would get three more scoring chances however were unable to connect as the first half would come to a close. Due to the Michigan High School Athletic Association rules, 8-0 after the first half is complete is a Mercy and the game is considered complete at that time. “We never talk about needing to or having to mercy a team” Bogart continued “Comstock Park played very well I thought. They held us to 2 goals for almost 30 minutes of the game and I thought they were more physical and had more energy than we did at times. We just had some lucky bounces and timely passes and when you combine that with some experienced players, you fight through the bad and get a result”
With the 8 goals tonight the Huskies have now scored 50 goals on the season. The win also moves the Huskies overall record to 8 wins and 3 losses and keeps command of the conference with an 8 and 0 record and holding a 1 game lead over Cedar Springs and 2 game lead over Coopersville. Both of which the Huskies will see in the next couple of weeks.
The Huskies return home Wednesday night for a Conference clash with West Catholic. “West is coming in as the #9 team in the state for Division 3…We are going to have to put together a stronger and more possession focused game in order to pull it out” Bogart said. The Huskies kick off with West at 6:40pm. The JV game is slated to start at 5:00pm
It would take the Huskies almost 8 minutes before they were able to break through with a goal. Sophomore Teigan Mitcham connected on nice back door pass from Junior Maria Rich. The Huskies would score a few minutes later, as Sophomore Olivia Griffith put a shot off the crossbar. Luckily for the Huskies, the ball bounced to the foot of Maria Rich who placed a nice rolling ball into the low left corner of the goal. These two goals marked the 10th goal of the season for Mitcham while Rich recorded her 6th.
The Huskies would go for almost 16 minutes before scoring again, but not without having opportunities. The Huskies had 3 goals called back due to offside calls. “The plays in which we were called offside on, were good plays. It was just the fact we had an inexperience striker up top at that time” Bogart said. Sophomore Olivia Griffith who is normally a defender was whistled for the three offside calls which resulted in goals being called back.
The Huskies would get 5 goals in the next 8 minutes to break the game wide open. Junior Maria Rich would get the scoring started once again as she received a pass from Sophomore Carly Belsito. Belsito received a great through ball from senior co-captain Andrea Byl, beat one defender and crossed the ball. Rich collected the ball, made one more and fired the ball into the goal. The goal was the Juniors 7th of the season. Rich would be a part of the fourth goal as she assisted on an Andrea Byl goal. A nice one/two combination play at the top of the box between Rich and Byl lead to the Huskies 4th goal. Rich would leave the game at this point finishing with 2 goals and 2 assists on the day. “There is a reason why Maria is such a special player. She came off the field earlier in the game frustrated with her play, but took it upon herself to watch the game and recognize the weak spots in the Panther defense. She understood we just needed to shoot the ball” Bogart said of the 3rd team all-state player. “When she went back in, she was a difference maker and when she is on, our team is on”.
The Huskies fed off of the energy that Rich brought to the game. Junior goalkeeper Kristiana Griffith spent some time playing on the field and took full advantage of her time. Griffith found Freshman winger Robyn Wujkowski making a run back door and played a ball through the Panther defense. Wujkowski would collect the ball and cut it back to the middle before striking the ball past the Panther keeper from about 14 yards out. Griffith would also assist on the next goal as she was able to find senior Jace Mitcham on a similar play that she had with Wujkowski. Mitchams goal would be her first of the year. “One of our team goals each year is to have every girl on the team score a goal, we had four girls that needed to score yet coming into the game, and Mitcham was one of these girls”. Bogart continued “We were able to check one of the four off the list”.
The Huskies would add two more goals in the closing minutes of the first half to reach the 8-0 mercy rule. Junior Brenna Sellman received a pass from fellow junior, Sophie Rammal, made one more and placed the ball into the side netting for the 7-0 lead. Rammal would hook up with Sophomore Olivia Griffith with just less than 4 minutes left in the half. The goal would turn out to be the goal of the night or even year for that matter. Freshman Lindsay Rich was able to find Rammal on the right hand side who broke past a Panther defender and played a lofted ball into the box at about the PK spot. Griffith out leaped the Panther defense and headed the ball just over the outstretched hands of the Panther keeper and snuck it under the cross bar. “The ball that was played in was beautiful, the goal just as spectacular” Bogart commented. “Olivia’s header looked like something you would see in the EPL. It had power, it had placement, it had excitement…..It was that good!!”
Griffith’s goal would be the 8th goal for the Huskies with just under 4 minutes left to play in the first half. The Huskies would get three more scoring chances however were unable to connect as the first half would come to a close. Due to the Michigan High School Athletic Association rules, 8-0 after the first half is complete is a Mercy and the game is considered complete at that time. “We never talk about needing to or having to mercy a team” Bogart continued “Comstock Park played very well I thought. They held us to 2 goals for almost 30 minutes of the game and I thought they were more physical and had more energy than we did at times. We just had some lucky bounces and timely passes and when you combine that with some experienced players, you fight through the bad and get a result”
With the 8 goals tonight the Huskies have now scored 50 goals on the season. The win also moves the Huskies overall record to 8 wins and 3 losses and keeps command of the conference with an 8 and 0 record and holding a 1 game lead over Cedar Springs and 2 game lead over Coopersville. Both of which the Huskies will see in the next couple of weeks.
The Huskies return home Wednesday night for a Conference clash with West Catholic. “West is coming in as the #9 team in the state for Division 3…We are going to have to put together a stronger and more possession focused game in order to pull it out” Bogart said. The Huskies kick off with West at 6:40pm. The JV game is slated to start at 5:00pm