Houghton's Sophie Blake (13) tries to get by Sault St. Marie's Olivia Obreiter (25) and Evelyn Weber (2) during a game Saturday in Houghton. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Hugs, accolades and gift baskets were the first order of business on Saturday at Alumni Field before the Houghton Gremlins soccer team faced off against the Sault St. Marie Blue Devils, whom they tied at 2-2. The Gremlins celebrated Senior Day in style before earning the draw.

Coaches, family and friends said goodbye and thank you to nine seniors in the Gremlins’ final regular-season home game. The senior class included Cecelia 
Butler, Aila Weeks, Cheyenne Laplander, Candela Calle Martinez, Tiana Rajala, Katelyn Meyers, Chloe Sanders, Tahera Almugabgab, and Audrey Waite.

“This group is special for me because it is the first group of girls that I had when I started coaching here four years ago,” noted Gremlins coach Madison Mattila. “They all work hard, are dedicated, and will be sorely missed. They are such good role models for the younger players.”

Leadership and strong play was on display in the first half by the Gremlins’ upperclassmen. A breakaway pass to Houghton’s Sophie Blake, who fired one wide of the goal at the 28-minute mark, was indicative of who was in charge in the first half.

Seven minutes later, Blake was successful in a similar breakaway opportunity, where she found the net, putting it past the Sault St. Marie goalie from the box.

While the Gremlins (3-7-1) continued to win balls led by Waite and Weeks at midfield, and pushed them forward for the remainder of the half, the game stayed at 1-0 headed into the break.

Coming out of the break, however, the Blue Devils wasted no time in tying this one courtesy of penalty kick by Isabelle McCord with just three minutes off the clock.

That is how the score stood until the Gremlins rallied to regain the lead at the 17-minute mark. With a ball bouncing around the box in front the Sault goal, Laplander finally took control and fired it into the net for a 2-1 lead.

The two teams battled back and forth for another eight minutes before the Blue Devils mounted their own rally. With 9:15 left to play, Sault St. Marie’s Evelyn Weber put a high kick up and out of reach of the Houghton netminder to tie things at two.

This was the second time these two teams had met this season. The Blue Devils won the first meeting in April, 1-0. This was the better of the two games according to Mattila.

“I sure would have liked a win,” she stated. “Our formation was in a good groove. We worked the ball well. A tie is better than a loss, however.”

Up Next

The Gremlins now await to see whom they will play in the playoffs, which will begin on Tuesday, May 27.