News photo by Owen Kinsey Wildcats girls gather in the center of the field during Tuesday's soccer game against Gaylord in Alpena. AHS lost 3-2.
ALPENA – The Alpena High School girls soccer team (2-1-1, 0-1 BNC) began its Big North Conference opener Monday at home against Gaylord.
Both teams traded leads several times, but the Blue Devils pulled away late in the second period, earning a 3-2 victory over the Wildcats.
Claire Gorno, BNC's top goal scorer last season, picked up where she left off with two more goals to slip past Alpena.
“The girls were very good offensively tonight,” Alpena coach Greg Sapiran said. “We threatened to score a number of times, but we just couldn't get the win. We looked very sharp and if we can sort things out a little more, we can win a lot of games like this in the future. I think you can.”
Although the Wildcats lost by one point, they got off to a good start with their ability to pass the ball into the open field.
News photo by Owen Kinzey Faith Dragiewicz carries the ball down the field during AHS's soccer game at home against Gaylord on Tuesday. In the end, the Wildcats lost 3-2. Dragiewicz scored the first goal of the match.
Almost every time the team had possession, Alpena found an opportunity to take a shot on goal.
Blue Devil pressure on the net led to Alpena's early lead.
The Wildcats had Faith Dragiewicz enter the game after Gaylord's goaltender missed a diving save and ran out of the goal.
Dragiewicz received the ball close to her and the ball rolled into the back of the net and she scored.
Alpena, which led 1-0, will need to keep the pressure on a resilient Gaylord team.
News photo by Owen Kinzey Faith Dragiewicz carries the ball down the field during AHS's soccer game at home against Gaylord on Tuesday. In the end, the Wildcats lost 3-2. Dragiewicz scored the first goal of the match.
That resiliency was finally on display just before halftime, when Gorno scored Gaylord's first goal of the game with 5:38 remaining.
Both teams were tied 1-1 heading into halftime, but the Blue Devils kept the momentum going.
Approximately 10 minutes into the second half, Alpena made a costly defensive error and conceded their second goal of the game.
Ella Cherwinski was credited with the goal, which gave Gaylord the lead for the first time in the game.
That lead held for 18 minutes, and Alpena eventually got back in goal.
News photo by Owen Kinzey Faith Dragiewicz carries the ball down the field during AHS's soccer game at home against Gaylord on Tuesday. In the end, the Wildcats lost 3-2. Dragiewicz scored the first goal of the match.
With 11 minutes, 13 seconds left, the Wildcats tied the game on a deflected ball off Gaylord's goalie, which was scored by Alpena.
It looked like the Wildcats had stolen the momentum, but the Blue Devils weren't done yet.
Less than two minutes later, Gorno was on target again and the ball went past Alpena and into the goal.
There was plenty of time to score the final goal, but the Wildcats struggled to hold on to the ball and were unable to get it down the field in Gaylord's camp.
In the end, Alpena lost 3-2, but they fought well and left a lot of expectations for the upcoming conference games.
News Photo: Owen Kinsey The Wildcats lost 3-2.
“We have another conference game later this week, so we need to focus on getting the little things right. Working a little harder and winning the ball 50-50 is what will help us do well in this conference.” This is an important area that we can improve on,” said Coach Spillane.
Alpena heads to Cadillac today.
News photo by Owen Kinzey Goaltender Taylor Parker kicks the ball into play during Tuesday's game in Alpena. The Wildcats lost 3-2.
News photo by Owen Kinzey Reese Wisniewski looks for a goal against Gaylord in Alpena on Tuesday. AHS lost 3-2.
