Michigan Tech midfielder Kenzie Dollison looks to move the ball up the field during a game against St. Cloud Sunday at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Starting the season out 0-2 is never what a coach wants to do. To start 0-2 and not even score a goal is a coach’s nightmare. However, Michigan Tech Huskies soccer coach Melissa Kuhar is reiterating to her team that they are playing college soccer in Houghton for a reason.

“We don’t have to fix everything with that group,” said Kuhar. “They’re good players. (They) are here for a reason. We recruited them for a reason, and (we are) reminding them of that. We constantly kind of give them those little like, ‘Hey, you’re here for a reason. You’re at Michigan Tech for a reason. You’re with our program for a reason.’ I think it’s just kind of trying to instill some of that confidence, be creative, go do your thing, take chances, take risks, mistakes happen. That’s even for our upperclassmen. I constantly have to preach make mistakes because they’re going to happen. That’s OK to make a mistake, you learn from it, you get better.

“I think creating the culture we have where everyone has each other’s back really will help some of those younger girls realize, ‘OK, I’m good, I’m fine. I can keep pushing forward and doing my thing and I’ll be OK.'”

Kuhar was not happy with results of the two 1-0 losses to Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State, but she did feel like there were learning opportunities in both games for her young squad that features 12 freshmen on the roster.

“It’s not fun losing, right? But I think overall, what we learned, and what our freshmen gained in terms of experience, there’s positives out of this past weekend,” Kuhar said. “We, as a coaching staff, kind of learn the different things we need to tweak or change. I think the players personally learned. What could they do different? How could they prepare different?

“For a lot of freshmen, it was their first time having to get ready for a two-game weekend. So a lot comes out of the losses, good and bad. We learned what we have to fix and then learned what we need to kind of tweak in different areas.”

Among the newest Huskies, midfielder Braydin Noble is already making a name for herself. The younger sister of twins Jordan and Taylor, who graduated in the spring, the newest Noble sister is willing to do anything to get on the field, and that is all Kuhar can ask of her.

“She’s just like her sisters,” said Kuhar. “That family, you ask them to do something, they’re going to do it, just like her sisters were when they were here last year. Braydin, she’s kind of embracing whatever we’re throwing at her.

“We’ve played her in a couple different positions throughout our scrimmages and then our first two games. But yeah, she’s embracing what we’re asking her to do, and that’s all I can ask for.”

If having so many new players isn’t a big enough adjustment in Kuhar’s second season at the helm, she also has players who were freshmen a year ago, but missed significant time due to injury. A great example of that is sophomore midfielder Megan Antczak. She managed to create multiple scoring opportunities against Duluth.
”Megan’s essentially a freshman,” Kuhar said. “She is sophomore, academic-wise, but last year, she played in two games and then got an injury that took her out for the whole year. So Megan’s still kind of learning. She’s a workhorse. I could tell her to go do anything and everything and she’ll go do it, and she’ll do it with some energy and some feistiness behind her, which I love, in the middle.

“But, she’s still kind of learning and trying to figure it out as well, along with those true freshmen. She’s kind of doing the same. She’s a kid that you can tell to do something, or you can give advice, and she’s going to take it to heart. She’s not just going to brush it off. She’s solid in the midfield for us. Just her vision of the field, her touch alone, they do wonders for us in there. We still have to clean some stuff up overall in the midfield, and I think that will kind of help her succeed more too”

Fortunately, behind all of the new Huskies, is senior keeper Bri Barrows, who has become an anchor for the Black and Gold as they find their way.

“She’s really embraced that leadership role this year on and off the field,” said Kuhar. “I think all of our upperclassmen have done that. They have realized with 12 freshmen that they either have to embrace it, and start being a leader on and off the field, or we’re going to be in trouble.

“Bri brings out that positive energy, positive vibes. She’s going to command back there, and she’s going to tell people what to do to make our team better.

“She owns her mistakes back there too, which is a big part of that leadership. First thing after the game on Sunday, she’s like, ‘I could have done this probably different.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but don’t beat yourself up. It got through everyone.’ She’s owning that leadership of it, and she has people back there that help her, as well, kind of lead from the back.”

Scouting the Yellowjackets

Thursday, the Huskies will face the Cedarville Yellowjackets, who are 1-1 on the season after defeating Ferris State Thursday, and then falling to No. 5 Grand Valley State Saturday in a game they lead at halftime.

They are led by a pair of junior midfielders in Kacy Rosenthal and Katie Ulmer, both whom have goals this season. The Yellowjackets’ other goal was scored by senior defender Sophie Browndyke.

Scouting the Timberwolves

Saturday, the Huskies will host the Northwood Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are 1-0 after defeating Saginaw Valley State Friday, 1-0.

Senior defender Ava Kettler has the lone goal for the Timberwolves. Junior keeper Lindsay Jacob held the Cardinals off the board.

Game times

The Huskies and Yellowjackets will battle Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. Saturday, the Huskies and Timberwolves are set to start at 1 p.m.