FOREST HILLS NORTHERN 4 - COOPERSVILLE 1
HUSKIES SHOW DEPTH IN WIN OVER COOPERSVILLE
Playing their sixth game in eight days the Huskies legs were getting a little heavy entering Wednesday nights OK Blue contest at Coopersville. “We're entering the tail end of a rough stretch of the season, 9 games in 14 days” Head Coach Jamie Bogart continued by saying “Our legs are a little heavy, but we are going to keep fighting for three more games. We have to be able to use our entire team and our depth”.
The Huskies, taking on a very well coached and dangerous team in Coopersville, used their depth, size and skill to their advantage for the 4 -1 victory. “Coopersville has some dangerous players that we had to key in on and contain. The game could have been a lot different if we didn’t do a good job in this area”. Bogart stated. The Huskies coming off a big win on Monday over Cedar Springs knew they couldn’t have a letdown. “We didn’t have to talk to the girls before the game; they knew we couldn’t have a letdown. They simply wanted this game” Bogart said of his team.
The Huskies got started quickly by taking control of the game and using their strong possession game to their advantage. Senior Madeline Rammal was the catalyst for the strong start and the key leader on the first goal. Rammal, collected a clear ball from the Coopersville defense and recognized they were over committed in the final third, turned and played the ball outside back senior co-captain Jace Mitcham. Rammal continued her on field leadership by communicating to Mitcham to open up and swing the ball to the sophomore sweeper; Kat Krukowski. From that point the Huskies set up their goal. The ball was passed between a few more players before it wound back up on the foot of Rammal. Rammal opened up and called for junior winger Brenna Sellman to run to the corner. That play was cut off by the Broncos defense. Recognizing this, Rammal took one more touch, allowing for Junior outside back, Becca Quinn to follow into the space left vacant by Sellman. Quinn collected the ball from Rammal, took a touch and played a tremendous 40 yard ball through the air and into the box. Quinn’s pass found the head of sophomore striker Teigan Mitcham and ultimately the back of the net. “That whole play was beautiful. We had about 10 to 12 passes connected before leading up to the goal “. Bogart also spoke of his central midfielder performance “Madeline (Rammal) was outstanding tonight. And on this particular goal she was the driving force behind it; Madeline simply displayed tonight what it means to be a central middy”.
The Huskies would add one more first half goal, despite several other scoring chances. Freshman Robyn Wujkowski picked off a pass on the sideline and rushed past the Bronco defense. Wujkowski would make one move around a defender and head in towards goal down the baseline. Wujkowski struck the ball well with her left foot, which Bronco keeper Taylor Royce got her hands on, however the deflected ball wound up going off another bronco defender and into the goal. That goal marked Robyn’s 6th of the year.
The Huskies would go into half-time up 2-0.
The second half brought about a sense of urgency for the Broncos. However it was still the Huskies that controlled the game. About 6 minutes into the second half, a misplayed pass, and slow reaction of the Huskies in their offensive 1/3rd lead to a Coopersville break out. The play was broken up by Senior defender Jace Mitcham, and Coopersville was awarded a corner kick.
The Coopersville corner was taken by Bronco Junior Marie VanderJagt. VanderJagt hit a low ball to the near post. Miscommunication by the Huskies led to the ball sneaking into the goal near post.
That is the closest the Broncos would get to the goal until the closing moments of the game. The Huskies pressure was turned up and once again took over control of the game. The Huskies would get on the board again when freshman central middy Lindsay Rich played a nice through ball linking up with her sister, Junior striker Maria Rich. M.Rich split two Bronco defenders and into the box, where she placed the ball back post and around Royce. “It’s fun watching plays develop and goals happen. But when it is sister to sister it makes it all that much more fun” Bogart continued about the sibling connection “The Rich sisters simply love playing on the field together. And they are a fun pair to watch when they are on their game”.
The Huskies would get several more scoring chances before their fourth goal, but none of the chances were more impressive than the two shots Freshman striker/goalkeeper Ally Kiekover put on frame. Literally on Frame! Kiekovers shots were both rockets that found the posts both times. “I hope we don’t get a bill from Coopersville about dents in their goals. She (Ally) got off two rockets” Bogart started. Ally would add another scoring chance when she shot the ball back post and had it moving to the upper 90. Waiting for the ball was sophomore striker Carly Belsito put pressure on Royce who made a tremendous leaping save bringing a loud ovation from the entire crowed. “Royce is a difference maker for them” Bogart stated of the Bronco keeper. “That save was outstanding, I am not happy to be facing her for 2 more years”.
A few moments later two Husky sophomores linked up for the final goal of the game. Sophomore striker Teigan Mitcham found sophomore winger Carly Belsito making a run behind the Bronco defense. A through ball played into space by Mitham was picked up by Belsito who took two three dribbles towards goal and fired a shot back post and into the side netting. “We talked a couple games ago during a 3-1 loss to Unity Christian about how under control their shooters were. This goal by Belsito was an example of learning and putting it into practice.” Bogart stated. Belsito was under control and maintained composer on the goal. Belsito’s goal was the 4th goal of the game and her 4th of the year.
“This was a solid win for us. Coopersville is an outstanding team and to come in here following a big win on Monday and to handle them the way we did, is a testament to the drive and hunger of our players” Bogart stated. “The depth of our team showed through tonight, I am very proud of our girls”
Northern now moves to a 5-0 record in conference play and a record of 5-2-0 overall for year. The Huskies travel to Petoskey Saturday before returning home for two conference games next week Monday and Wednesday.
The Huskies, taking on a very well coached and dangerous team in Coopersville, used their depth, size and skill to their advantage for the 4 -1 victory. “Coopersville has some dangerous players that we had to key in on and contain. The game could have been a lot different if we didn’t do a good job in this area”. Bogart stated. The Huskies coming off a big win on Monday over Cedar Springs knew they couldn’t have a letdown. “We didn’t have to talk to the girls before the game; they knew we couldn’t have a letdown. They simply wanted this game” Bogart said of his team.
The Huskies got started quickly by taking control of the game and using their strong possession game to their advantage. Senior Madeline Rammal was the catalyst for the strong start and the key leader on the first goal. Rammal, collected a clear ball from the Coopersville defense and recognized they were over committed in the final third, turned and played the ball outside back senior co-captain Jace Mitcham. Rammal continued her on field leadership by communicating to Mitcham to open up and swing the ball to the sophomore sweeper; Kat Krukowski. From that point the Huskies set up their goal. The ball was passed between a few more players before it wound back up on the foot of Rammal. Rammal opened up and called for junior winger Brenna Sellman to run to the corner. That play was cut off by the Broncos defense. Recognizing this, Rammal took one more touch, allowing for Junior outside back, Becca Quinn to follow into the space left vacant by Sellman. Quinn collected the ball from Rammal, took a touch and played a tremendous 40 yard ball through the air and into the box. Quinn’s pass found the head of sophomore striker Teigan Mitcham and ultimately the back of the net. “That whole play was beautiful. We had about 10 to 12 passes connected before leading up to the goal “. Bogart also spoke of his central midfielder performance “Madeline (Rammal) was outstanding tonight. And on this particular goal she was the driving force behind it; Madeline simply displayed tonight what it means to be a central middy”.
The Huskies would add one more first half goal, despite several other scoring chances. Freshman Robyn Wujkowski picked off a pass on the sideline and rushed past the Bronco defense. Wujkowski would make one move around a defender and head in towards goal down the baseline. Wujkowski struck the ball well with her left foot, which Bronco keeper Taylor Royce got her hands on, however the deflected ball wound up going off another bronco defender and into the goal. That goal marked Robyn’s 6th of the year.
The Huskies would go into half-time up 2-0.
The second half brought about a sense of urgency for the Broncos. However it was still the Huskies that controlled the game. About 6 minutes into the second half, a misplayed pass, and slow reaction of the Huskies in their offensive 1/3rd lead to a Coopersville break out. The play was broken up by Senior defender Jace Mitcham, and Coopersville was awarded a corner kick.
The Coopersville corner was taken by Bronco Junior Marie VanderJagt. VanderJagt hit a low ball to the near post. Miscommunication by the Huskies led to the ball sneaking into the goal near post.
That is the closest the Broncos would get to the goal until the closing moments of the game. The Huskies pressure was turned up and once again took over control of the game. The Huskies would get on the board again when freshman central middy Lindsay Rich played a nice through ball linking up with her sister, Junior striker Maria Rich. M.Rich split two Bronco defenders and into the box, where she placed the ball back post and around Royce. “It’s fun watching plays develop and goals happen. But when it is sister to sister it makes it all that much more fun” Bogart continued about the sibling connection “The Rich sisters simply love playing on the field together. And they are a fun pair to watch when they are on their game”.
The Huskies would get several more scoring chances before their fourth goal, but none of the chances were more impressive than the two shots Freshman striker/goalkeeper Ally Kiekover put on frame. Literally on Frame! Kiekovers shots were both rockets that found the posts both times. “I hope we don’t get a bill from Coopersville about dents in their goals. She (Ally) got off two rockets” Bogart started. Ally would add another scoring chance when she shot the ball back post and had it moving to the upper 90. Waiting for the ball was sophomore striker Carly Belsito put pressure on Royce who made a tremendous leaping save bringing a loud ovation from the entire crowed. “Royce is a difference maker for them” Bogart stated of the Bronco keeper. “That save was outstanding, I am not happy to be facing her for 2 more years”.
A few moments later two Husky sophomores linked up for the final goal of the game. Sophomore striker Teigan Mitcham found sophomore winger Carly Belsito making a run behind the Bronco defense. A through ball played into space by Mitham was picked up by Belsito who took two three dribbles towards goal and fired a shot back post and into the side netting. “We talked a couple games ago during a 3-1 loss to Unity Christian about how under control their shooters were. This goal by Belsito was an example of learning and putting it into practice.” Bogart stated. Belsito was under control and maintained composer on the goal. Belsito’s goal was the 4th goal of the game and her 4th of the year.
“This was a solid win for us. Coopersville is an outstanding team and to come in here following a big win on Monday and to handle them the way we did, is a testament to the drive and hunger of our players” Bogart stated. “The depth of our team showed through tonight, I am very proud of our girls”
Northern now moves to a 5-0 record in conference play and a record of 5-2-0 overall for year. The Huskies travel to Petoskey Saturday before returning home for two conference games next week Monday and Wednesday.