Michigan Tech midfielder Braydin Noble controls the ball as she works her way across the field during a game against Northwood Saturday at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — To say the non-conference schedule had not been nice to the Michigan Tech Huskies soccer team would be an understatement. The Huskies came away from their first two weekends of the season 0-4 and had their worst effort on Saturday during their final non-conference match of the season against Northwood.

The Huskies also dropped games to Minnesota-Duluth, St.. Cloud State and Cedarville.

“The reason we schedule those four teams, they’re tough teams. They’re going to show us what we need to work on, and show us where we are,” said Huskies coach Melissa Kuhar. “Some of those teams will do very well in their conferences. So, it gives us kind of that bigger perspective and kind of the reality of where we need to work on stuff.

“It’s not fun to be going 0-4. That’s not ideal. It’s definitely hurt some confidence of our girls. We can only go up. So, that’s kind of what we’re trying to stress to them. We can only go forward. Conference is the start of a new kind of season within our season.”

Kuhar said that she and her staff are working with the team on seeing a larger picture, starting with their GLIAC opponents this weekend, the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers and the Roosevelt Lakers.

“(We’re) really trying to kind of push for some of those different, bigger picture-type things,” she said. “We just have to move forward. Our team confidence is rattled, but it’s still there. Our culture is still there. So, that’s kind of going to keep us and drive us as we go forward.”

The Huskies had steadily gotten more consistent play through each of their first three games before struggling against the Timberwolves.

“Look at all the positives within all the games we played,” said Kuhar. “There are positives. You’re talking about a Cedarville team that, if you look at the score, it was 4-1, but we played very well in that first 30 minutes until the first goal happened. (We) even (had) moments in the second half where we should have had some opportunities that kind of crack through.

“Instead of looking at it as the losses, looking towards the positives of each game, and I think that’s what our girls are kind of trying to focus on a little more, too. So, we’re trying to really stress those positives.”

Kuhar said that she feels that her team isn’t suffering from a crisis of confidence, but rather are frustrated, something they might be able to turn into their advantage.

“I think our girls haven’t given up hope. They’re more mad than anything,” she said. “Like mad because they know that we’re capable. Which, when talking to our captains (Monday), that is a good thing, and I feel good about that. They’re not just losing hope, but they’re actually kind of pissed off. That’s a good thing.

“Hopefully, heading into conference (play) kind of is a driving force that they are tired of getting beat. I think we’re in a good spot where they’re more mad than anything, because they know that we’re good enough, and just kind of putting a full game together.”

A couple of positives for the Huskies have been the play of freshmen midfielders Braydin Noble and Lizzy Streibel, who earned the chance to start last week. Noble picked up her first career point on an assist against Cedarville.

“The two of them, they’re kids that you can tell to do something, they’re going to do it,” Kuhar said. “I think a lot of our freshmen, granted, a lot of our team is that way, but Braydin’s really embraced kind of wherever we put her on the field, she really doesn’t bat an eye. ‘OK, now you’re going to be in the midfield … now you’re going to be here … so, that’s always nice. Then, players like Lizzy, players like Kenzie (Dollison) in the middle, and then even Sophie Rater and Peyton (Wetzel) out top, every freshman has bought into, ‘I’m going to do whatever the team needs.'”

Wetzel has the Huskies’ lone goal thus far.

“I think (that was) a confidence booster,” said Kuhar. “She’s had so many opportunities, and finally, for one to go, I think (it was) also a confidence booster for our team. You see the reaction of a fifth-year senior with ‘AK’ (Anna Syracuse) going up and giving her a big chest bump, hug, whatever they were trying to do.

“Those moments, it’s a confidence booster for everyone, and it’s kind of that culture boost as well.”

Scouting the Rangers

With losses last weekend to St. Cloud State and Concordia-St. Paul by scores of 4-0 and 5-0, respectively, the Rangers are in a similar position to the Huskies. They have scored three goals, but find themselves 0-3-1 after non-conference play.

They are led in scoring by redshirt sophomore midfielder Carley Nolte, who scored goals in each of the Rangers’ first two games of the season. Senior midfielder Grace Breuchel has the other Rangers tally.

“They haven’t won on the season yet, so that’s going to be a huge battle,” Kuhar said. “Their grass field isn’t the best, so that’s going to be a fun one. We’re trying to think of strategic ways to kind of fake having grass, the way the ball needs to play different, and all that.”

In goal, senior Tristen Cross struggled through the last two games, surrendering nine goals.

Scouting the Lakers

The Lakers come into this weekend having knocked off Upper Iowa and Thomas More in their last two games to improve to 2-1 on the season. The two wins were their first as a program after making the jump to NCAA Division II.

Junior midfielder Daisy Garcia is off to a fast start to her season. She scored three goals in the win over Upper Iowa and has two assists as well. Sophomore midfielders Carisma Rosales and Bella Perry each have two goals as well.

In goal, freshman Angelina Vazquez has been good, giving up six goals on 14 shots.

Game times

The Huskies and Rangers will battle Friday at 2 p.m. in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Sunday, the Huskies and Lakers will face off at 1 p.m. in Chicago, Illinois.