Petoskey soccer tops Alpena, stays in Big North title race
PETOSKEY — With the kind of season the Petoskey girls’ soccer team is having, it’s hard to find clear areas where the Northmen really need to improve.
But, in the eyes of head coach Zach Jonker, having a better mentality of putting a foot down with a lead could be added to the arsenal.
When Petoskey returned to Big North Conference action Tuesday at Northmen Stadium, that didn’t necessarily hurt them in a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats, but wins are always good teaching moments too.
“This happened against TC Central as well where we score two or three, then one of the things we need to work on as group is our mentality and staying engaged and keeping our foot on the gas for the full 80 minuets,” said Jonker. “I think it’s human nature, where we’re up and then the girls get thinking.”
The end result kept Petoskey within the BNC race and moved them to 3-1-1 in the league, along with 9-2-1 overall on the season.
Jonker had no complaints with how his team came out against Alpena on a hot night, brining the fight right to the Wildcats early.
“Some of our best chances were early on in the first five minutes,” he said. “I really liked how we started. Kate Farley hit a post, Hayley (Flynn) had a great cross from Anna Dundon, just barely missed that header, so we came out with a lot of positive energy. Great to see after three games this weekend.”
While those chances were good, the first score of the game didn’t come until 14:57 in the first half, with Lauren Cole finishing a try right in front of the net, set up by sister, Dana Cole.
That 1-0 lead later grew to 2-0 when Kate Farley sprinted down the sideline and twice kept the ball in just inches from the line, then brought it to the corner, where she sent in a cross that deflected off Alpena’s keeper and into the back of the net.
“She made a great play with it,” said Jonker. “She was trying to get the cross in, but that’s why you put the ball in dangerous positions. Good things happen.”
The game headed to halftime in a 2-0 game, then Hayley Flynn capped the scoring just three minutes into the second half on a close range score.
The remainder of the game went scoreless, despite some chances by the Northmen.
Petoskey’s backline and Sadie Corey in net then picked up their eighth shutout victory of the season.
“The backline was organized,” added Jonker. “They had some partial chances, but they never got in behind us where we gave up a clear cut chance on goal. A lot of those balls were just leaking through and Sadie deals with most of those with her feet, which makes her a good goalkeeper who continues to improve.”
Play will focus on the Big North race over the next couple weeks for Petoskey, resuming this Thursday, May 12 at the Click Road Soccer Complex against Cadillac. The game will come as a 6 p.m. start.
The matchup with the Vikings, then comes followed by a rematch with Cadillac on Saturday, May 14 at Cadillac, then a trip to Traverse City Central on Tuesday, May 17.
Traverse City West currently sits atop the league with a 4-0-2 record, Petoskey is second with its 3-1-1 mark and Cadillac is trying to stay within the race at 2-1-2.
Petoskey’s junior varsity also earned a 5-0 victory over Alpena.
Contact Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey soccer tops Alpena, stays in Big North title race
