Regular season ends on another momentum grab by Petoskey soccer
ALPENA — If you want a lesson on how to build some momentum for the postseason, just ask the Petoskey girls’ soccer team.
After beating league rival Traverse City West for the second time late last week, the Northmen had one more chance to lay some regular season bricks before bigger and better district things later this week.
And the Northmen delivered once again.
Meeting Alpena on the road, Petoskey returned with a 6-1 victory, matching their season-high for goals scored.
“Alpena scored late at our place to earn a 1-1 draw so the girls were motivated to get the full three points in the league table this time around,” Petoskey coach Zach Jonker said. “It was great to see us hit the back of the net a bunch of times via six different goal scorers, all in the run of play.”
Along with the regular season, it came as a cap to the Big North Conference, which was won by Traverse City Central (7-1-2) with 23 points. West (6-3-1) placed second, while Petoskey (3-1-5) and Gaylord (5-3-2) were each tied with 17 points. Fittingly so, another draw for the Northmen.
“We knew it was going to be a tight league race,” said Jonker. “In retrospect, plus or minus three goals in three home ties against Alpena, Gaylord and Cadillac were the difference in us winning the title. We can take some consolation in only dropping one game and going 2-0-2 with only two goals against vs. the top two teams, TC Central and TC West.”
Petoskey’s scoring was spread throughout the field Monday against the Wildcats, with Haidyn Wegmann, Annika Gandhi, Lauren Cole, Brynn Jonker, Kate Farley and Anna Dundon all scoring. Gandhi also had two assists, Wegmann had one, as did Farley and Clara Mailloux.
The final goal of the night by Dundon was a welcomed sight by everyone in a Petoskey uniform, as the senior returned from injury and back to form.
“Getting Anna back in the lineup was a huge boost for our attack,” said Jonker. “We knocked the ball around really well and stayed organized in the back against their dangerous counterattacks.”
Quinn Matthews also earned another win in goal for the Northmen, while getting praise from Jonker once again as well.
With a couple of big wins in the bag to close the regular season, focus finally shifts to Division 2 district play for Petoskey and a trip down to Mount Pleasant on Thursday, May 25.
“I think the win Thursday at West and tonight's goal barrage gives us a lot of momentum heading into a tough first round match-up at Mount Pleasant,” added Jonker. “We beat them at their place last year 2-1 and also scrimmaged them before spring break this season. We've had four epic district championship battles with them in the past 9-10 years. We have a ton of respect for the way they run their program and are looking forward to another fun match.”
A win for Petoskey would bring them back north in a hosted district semifinal against either Cadillac or Gaylord on Tuesday, May 30.
LAKE MICHIGAN
Elk Rapids 5, Boyne City 1
BOYNE FALLS — The regular season ended for the Boyne City girls’ soccer team Monday with just two losses to their credit.
The second came Monday against the same team, Elk Rapids.
The No. 3 ranked Elks topped No. 13 Boyne City for the second time behind three second half goals in a 5-1 final.
For Boyne City, Mira Hauger scored off a Braydin Noble assist. Maggi McHugh also pulled in nine saves.
The loss capped a 10-2-2 regular season and 7-2-2 LMC slate for Boyne. Elk Rapids earned the league title behind a 10-0 record and 17-0-1 overall record.
Boyne City will now await its first round Division 3 district opponent, meeting either Kingsley or Grayling in Grayling on Tuesday, May 30.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Regular season ends on another momentum grab by Petoskey soccer
