FOREST HILLS NORTHERN 4 - COMSTOCK PARK 0
HUSKIES DOWN PANTHERS; MOVE ON TO DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday evening was not a good night to be one of the top tier teams in the Grand Rapids area as Spring Lake, the number one team in Division 2 entering the state playoffs lost to conference rival Fruitport 1-0. It was the third meeting between the Lakers and Torjans with the Lakers winning the previous two matches. “It is extremely hard to face a team 3 times in the season” the Huskies Head Coach Jamie Bogart would continue “At this point of the season you can honestly throw out the records, throw out the regular season and just play the game”. This couldn’t be said more truthfully as the Huskies struggled to a 4-0 win over conference foe Comstock Park.
The Huskies who have already beaten the Panthers twice the season (7-0 & 8-0) struggled throughout the entire game. “We wanted to work on some things, however it was honestly the little things that make us such a good team that we struggled with tonight. We couldn’t trap cleanly, we couldn’t pass accurately, we didn’t have movement and we forced the issue. This played right into their hands all game long” a frustrated Coach Bogart stated. "You don't want to see this type of game, this late in the season and with the season on the line"
It would take the Huskies almost 20 minutes to get on the scoreboard. With 21 minutes and 17 seconds left in the first half, the Huskies got on the board as two Juniors connected on what would turn out to be the winning goal. Freshman Lindsay Rich played a great through ball to a running Sophie Rammal. The Junior (Rammal) would beat one defender and cut the ball down the baseline and towards goal. Rammal would find a charging Maria Rich and slotted Rich the ball. Rich redirected the ball into the goal and the Huskies found themselves up 1-0. “It’s a play we have worked on throughout the year. The girl’s understand these are the type of goals that you can just about score on every time, it’s just a matter of timing, making the right runs and playing a good ball. All three girls involved in this play did just that” Bogart stated.
The goal put a little spark in the Huskies step but still struggled to score. “We did start taking some deeper shots, but we were trying to shoot through a brick wall” Bogart said. The Huskies were trying long shots, little chips back post but nothing would work as they were trying to break down 10 defenders in the box. “We came into the game wanting to just keep possession, we told the girls use the entire field tonight and maintain possession. We didn’t do that” Bogart stated of his teams game plan.
The Huskies would get on the scoreboard one more time in the first half as Senior Hanna Schlesinger passed up her own shot and dumped the ball to Freshman Ashley Lang. Lang took the pass and put the ball past the Panther keeper for the 2-0 lead.
The second half would see better play from the Huskies, but the slow play was less than desired. The Huskies would see some very good looks and the Panther keeper was up to the task turning away several Husky chances who mounted close to 30 shots on frame.
Freshman Ashley Lang and Senior Andrea Byl would each score a second half goal for the final 4-0 tally. Lang would record her second of the game and her 3rd goal in 3 games with the Varsity team. Byl recorded her 7th goal of the season while Freshmen Ally Kiekover and Robyn Wujkowski were credited with an assist on the two goals. Wujkowski would get her “Double-Double” for the season as the assist was her 10th to go along with her 10 goals. Kiekover continues to improve as she added her 5th assist of the season.
With the win, the Huskies match the number of wins from a year ago (16) and are now headed into Saturday’s District Championship vs. Forest Hills Eastern (FHE). FHE was a 2-0 winner over Grand Rapids Northview and will be playing in their 6th consecutive District Championship game. The FHN vs. FHE game will be a rematch of last years district championship with the Huskies coming out on top with a 2-1 victory in a double overtime shoot-out. The Huskies are going for their 3rd District title in 4 years and their 4th in the past 6. “It’s going to be a great game. FHE is a very physical team with some highly skilled players” Bogart stated. He would continue “It’s going to come down to simply, who wants it more”.
For the individuals keeping score at home, the Huskies hold a slim advantage over the Hawks with a 1-0-2 advantage. The win (2-1) came in last years District title game at Northview with the two ties coming in the regular season (0-0 and 1-1) at FHE. This will be the first time the two teams will play against each other at Northern. Game time is set to start at 1:00pm at Forest Hills Northern Husky Stadium.
The Huskies who have already beaten the Panthers twice the season (7-0 & 8-0) struggled throughout the entire game. “We wanted to work on some things, however it was honestly the little things that make us such a good team that we struggled with tonight. We couldn’t trap cleanly, we couldn’t pass accurately, we didn’t have movement and we forced the issue. This played right into their hands all game long” a frustrated Coach Bogart stated. "You don't want to see this type of game, this late in the season and with the season on the line"
It would take the Huskies almost 20 minutes to get on the scoreboard. With 21 minutes and 17 seconds left in the first half, the Huskies got on the board as two Juniors connected on what would turn out to be the winning goal. Freshman Lindsay Rich played a great through ball to a running Sophie Rammal. The Junior (Rammal) would beat one defender and cut the ball down the baseline and towards goal. Rammal would find a charging Maria Rich and slotted Rich the ball. Rich redirected the ball into the goal and the Huskies found themselves up 1-0. “It’s a play we have worked on throughout the year. The girl’s understand these are the type of goals that you can just about score on every time, it’s just a matter of timing, making the right runs and playing a good ball. All three girls involved in this play did just that” Bogart stated.
The goal put a little spark in the Huskies step but still struggled to score. “We did start taking some deeper shots, but we were trying to shoot through a brick wall” Bogart said. The Huskies were trying long shots, little chips back post but nothing would work as they were trying to break down 10 defenders in the box. “We came into the game wanting to just keep possession, we told the girls use the entire field tonight and maintain possession. We didn’t do that” Bogart stated of his teams game plan.
The Huskies would get on the scoreboard one more time in the first half as Senior Hanna Schlesinger passed up her own shot and dumped the ball to Freshman Ashley Lang. Lang took the pass and put the ball past the Panther keeper for the 2-0 lead.
The second half would see better play from the Huskies, but the slow play was less than desired. The Huskies would see some very good looks and the Panther keeper was up to the task turning away several Husky chances who mounted close to 30 shots on frame.
Freshman Ashley Lang and Senior Andrea Byl would each score a second half goal for the final 4-0 tally. Lang would record her second of the game and her 3rd goal in 3 games with the Varsity team. Byl recorded her 7th goal of the season while Freshmen Ally Kiekover and Robyn Wujkowski were credited with an assist on the two goals. Wujkowski would get her “Double-Double” for the season as the assist was her 10th to go along with her 10 goals. Kiekover continues to improve as she added her 5th assist of the season.
With the win, the Huskies match the number of wins from a year ago (16) and are now headed into Saturday’s District Championship vs. Forest Hills Eastern (FHE). FHE was a 2-0 winner over Grand Rapids Northview and will be playing in their 6th consecutive District Championship game. The FHN vs. FHE game will be a rematch of last years district championship with the Huskies coming out on top with a 2-1 victory in a double overtime shoot-out. The Huskies are going for their 3rd District title in 4 years and their 4th in the past 6. “It’s going to be a great game. FHE is a very physical team with some highly skilled players” Bogart stated. He would continue “It’s going to come down to simply, who wants it more”.
For the individuals keeping score at home, the Huskies hold a slim advantage over the Hawks with a 1-0-2 advantage. The win (2-1) came in last years District title game at Northview with the two ties coming in the regular season (0-0 and 1-1) at FHE. This will be the first time the two teams will play against each other at Northern. Game time is set to start at 1:00pm at Forest Hills Northern Husky Stadium.