District final shootout goes to Harbor Springs in another classic
HABROR SPRINGS — The shootout.
Many have described it as the absolute worst way to lose and the absolute best way to win.
Harbor Springs head girls’ soccer coach Aaron Riley and Charlevoix coach Pete Scholten have been standing on the sidelines for both outcomes.
And after 100 minutes of soccer in a Division 4 district championship at Ottawa Stadium in Harbor Springs between their teams Friday, both could only wait for one of the above outcomes.
After a regulation and overtime ending 2-2 tie, the Rams then pulled out a 3-0 advantage in penalty kicks, bringing on a 3-2 victory and a third consecutive district title.
“What a game, what a district final,” said Riley. “Two teams that didn’t want to lose. Pete and I have been going at it since 2015. He was the first coach to welcome me into the LMC and I’m happy to play this game against him. I know it wasn’t what he wanted for the result, but it’s something I’ll always remember. Hats off to Charlevoix. I thought they played a great game. I thought Mikayla (Sharrow) was a dominant player.”
The win sends Harbor Springs to a Big Rapids hosted D4 regional semifinal at 7 p.m.,Wednesday, June 7 against Midland Calvary Baptist.
For Scholten, the night was both exhilarating and crushing, with every other emotion in-between.
“I’ve been on the other end of it before,” said Scholten on shootouts. “It’s a glorious way to win and it’s the crumbiest way to lose. Both teams tonight worked their butts off for 100 minutes and what more can you ask. It’s unfortunate, but somebody has to walk away the winner. It just wasn’t in the cards for us tonight.
“High intensity and I was just really proud how we brought things tougher. Both sides, I think we’re walking away proud of the effort.”
It appeared to be a full deck for the Rayders early, as Sharrow scored just 12 seconds into the game on a defensive breakdown and breakaway that had Charlevoix celebrating before many had taken their seats in the stands.
Following a water break in the near 90-degree heat 20 minutes in, it was Sharrow again busting out with a breakaway to make it a 2-0 game. This time it was 21 seconds out of the break.
“I was a little frustrated,” said Riley. “But I was just telling the team, ‘Remember, Leland scored on us first. We didn’t give up.’ So when we got to the second half, we were just saying we can’t give up. One goal changes all the momentum.”
The 2-0 lead stood until just inside 18 minutes left to play, when Josie Baker – who returned to action following an injury – knocked in Harbor’s first goal on a goalmouth scramble sent in on a free kick by Katelyn Drayer.
And, Riley was right. One goal did change all the momentum.
It took just a minute and a half for the Rams to find the net once again, as keeper Hailey Fisher – now playing the field – headed in a Drayer free kick that made it 2-2.
“Josie was in there playing, limping around because she didn’t want to come out,” said Riley. “Hailey Fisher was in there at halftime saying please don’t let this be my last game. I’m glad the underclassmen came out and played for the seniors.”
Now exhausted, both teams limped through the final stretch and each 10 minute overtime period before the penalty kicks.
Drayer connected on the first for the Rams in the shootout, then Teagan Inglehart was also successful after now two misses for the Rayders. Another stop by Fisher in net left it to senior Sierra Kruzel to finish the job for the Rams, and she did in front of a large home crowd.
It came as another instant classic in the long list of Charlevoix and Harbor Springs meetings, many in front of a packed house at Ottawa Stadium, just like Friday night.
“It’s everything we could ask for,” added Riley. “They had an audience and they performed well for that audience. This team is so fun to watch and I’m just happy that people came out to watch two great teams in a shootout.”
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: District final shootout goes to Harbor Springs in another classic
