Pioneers Varsity Soccer

The day began wet, very wet.  The day ended fantastic!  

Going in the plan was to use the scrimmages as a final tryout.  We had to see how some of the younger players would perform.  With only seven varsity players returning, we also needed to see if there would be much chemistry.  There were some glitches and unfamiliarity, but they are minor and easily corrected. 

The first match against Birch Run was a good start.  We created some chances but weren't able to convert, most notably was Taylor S.'s opportunity which required the BR keeper to make a fantastic save to stop. 

The second match was against Freeland.  We are becoming familiar with this school as they are in our district.  We allowed some goals with our mixed squad, but the highlight in my eyes was the offense.  Jamie played a beautiful free kick unselfishly to Josiah who headed the ball for the score.  Jamie had another free kick just outside the penalty area to the left of the goal; he placed his shot around and over the wall, hitting the crossbar. 

The third match of the day was against Elk Rapids; they are a strong team.  I decided to use the first half to put my varsity squad on the field to assess their potential.   Once again Jamie provided some offense for us, blasting a goal from 30+ yards out.  We finished the first half leading 1-0.  The second half was back to checking on the newer players, and they held strong.  They were tough and physical and show real promise.

I feel highly optimistic following the Delta Invitational.  If we continue to improve we can forge some new ground for the program.

What an improvement.  The first meeting against Gladwin served as a foreboding omen of things to come.  However, under the watchful eye and tactical adjustments of Coach Z, the trend of weekly improvement was highlighted no better than in Thursday's rematch.

Intricate passing and unselfish movement of the ball kept Gladwin off-balance much of the first half.  Clare scored first on a picture-perfect finish to the side netting by Miranda "Mir" Smith.  Gladwin's scoring leader leveled the match at one apiece minutes later with a hard driven shot that Liz Fancon got a hand on and almost stopped.   The first half ended tied 1-1. 

The second half was similar to the first.  We had some good looks at the goal and nearly pulled off the upset.  "Mir" nearly had a second goal when she broke clear of the defense and went one-on-one with Gladwin's goalie.  Kelly Staten came inches from a goal when she struck a great ball from distance.  Allison Britting nearly had a goal or two.  Katie Eberhart was great at distributing the ball through the midfield and changing the point of attack.  The back line was a well-oiled machine, moving in unison.  It was the same Gladwin player who scored two more goals to lead her team to the 3-1 win; she is a quality player, no doubt.

And as I am prone to do, I dedicate some time to the goalkeeper.   Liz did an excellent job.  She controlled her penalty area.  She made some excellent parrying saves.  There was one shot she saved and smothered on the line.  Her distributions from saves and goalkicks were smart.  She was vocal and helped her team. She has a great future in front of her.

Some of the Gladwin girls were very complimentary about the improvement since the first meeting.  You should all be very proud of how you have responded to the season's challenges.  The family is strong.

The next few weeks will serve as a setup for district play.  The draw for districts is out and it will be a tough challenge, but not an impossible one.  We will look to our consistent leaders to leave it all out on the pitch. 

Over the past few matches we have been represented exceptionally well.  There have been several matches into OT and double OT.  Every week and every match you can note steady improvement.  The heart and desire of the Pioneers are undaunted.

I will be watching the remaining few weeks and I encourage everyone who can to do the same.

The week saw some ups and downs on and off the pitch.  Injuries have started to rear their head on the bench of both squads.  As those benches shorten, players have been asked to step up and persevere and they have answered the call remarkably.

 I haven't been able to attend a match since Burt Lake, but I have been tuning in.  Rachel Crawford has earned two clean sheets; outstanding performance for any keeper, let alone a rookie.  :)  Stingy play on the defensive side of the ball has been able to limit teams to less than ten shots on goal.  Offensive players have been finding the back of the net in dramatic fashion, none more dramatic than Thursday (4/22) when Kelly Staten scored the game winner with 16 seconds remaining!  

We take a two-game winning streak into next week's busy schedule.  Keep fighting, Pioneers, you're on a roll!

     Despite the cold, windy conditions a good crowd turned out to the girls' season opener Thursday against NMSL opponents, Burt Lake NMCA.  The result was 3-1 in favor of the visiting Eagles, but our squad looked good. 

     Clare scored first when Miranda Smith placed a great ball side netting.  It was virtually unsavable.  It appeared that we had the momentum early and were going to carry through the day with the "W".

     Midway through the first half, a corner by the Eagles was nicely redirected by an attacker, and it managed to sneak between our defender and the post for the equalizer.  The next tally came as a result of a determined Burt Lake striker who dribbled alone through the midfield, past our defense, and struck a nice ball for the go-ahead goal.  

      The first half ended 2-1 in favor of Burt Lake, but within one shot of being tied.  We felt good at half that we could create some chances, and that's exactly what happened.  Allison Britting had some opportunities and Miranda had another brilliant chance but we just couldn't get another one in.

     Burt Lake did manage another goal on a mini break away and finished the match winning 3-1.

     Some of the players in Thursday's match caught my eye as players to watch this season.  Defensively, Chelsea Mandriguez was flawless!  Every challenge was executed correctly.  She was grace under pressure, collecting the ball with her head up to pass out of danger, and her passes were dead-on accurate.

     In the midfield, Kelly Staten and Liz Fancon were standouts.  Kelly is the lone senior on this young squad, and she plays with the heart and determination one would come to expect from her.  She is aggressive and unselfish, nice to see.  Liz is a freshman who plays like a senior.  She is fearless in her challenges and works well with her teammates to pass in and out of danger.  It is going to be fun watching her abilities develop as the season progresses. 

     Up front two players sparked offense.  Miranda Smith, of course, scored our goal so she can produce.  She also had some other fine chances and can dribble through a crowd.  A second player who was impressive up front was Megan Ertel.  She is tenacious and fast and can create.  These two players will be exciting.

     We cannot forget the true hero of the day, Rachel Crawford, our goalkeeper.  This was her first match ever playing in goal and she was solid.  She still has a lot to learn but she has a great attitude and knows she is only going to get better.  (Besides, goalkeepers rule!)

     I will try to keep current on the season to add to these articles.