Michigan Tech midfielder Peyton Wetzel (second from right) is congratulated by her teammates after scoring a goal in a game against Cedarville Thursday at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Without a goal in their season to this point, the Michigan Tech Huskies soccer found themselves in a very tough hole when they gave up a pair of tallies less than two minutes apart in the late stages of the first half against the Cedarville Yellowjackets Thursday evening at Kearly Stadium.

The Yellowjackets added another before the Huskies answered, but it was not enough as Cedarville came away with a 4-1 win.

“Cedarville’s a good team,” said Huskies coach Melissa Kuhar. “They’ll be ranked here in the next week or so. They’re a good team. They have a lot of weapons up top that are solid, and it causes a lot of issues for the back line. So, we knew what we were kind of getting into for this game, but our team battled, Our team battled.

“Second half was really solid for us, and we created a lot of chances. I think it should have been a little bit of a different scoreline. I think a 3-2 scoreline I would have been happier with, or even a tie, but we also have to be able to kind of control where we gave up the goals and kind of fix some of those errors.”

The Huskies had played some strong soccer before Audrey Stanley broke the scoreless tie at 34:25 when she knocked the ball past Michigan Tech keeper Bri Barrows with a header.

One goal might have been enough, but then the Huskies committed a foul, and the Yellowjackets were awarded a penalty kick. Brooklyn Scythes scored on that kick with a well-placed shot that dropped to Barrows’ right at 36:17.

“It was just kind of the tempo of the game, we just kind of got that lull, and kind of fell into it,” Kuhar said. “Then, once the first one happened, and then the dagger of a PK, … that hurts. It’s a confidence thing sometimes.

“We just kind of got in that rut, and then there were heads hanging a little bit, which we have to kind of fix as just a group, and kind of be able to kind of bounce back, because there’s a lot of game left at that point. Some of our errors, and we just have to fix some of those moments.”

The halftime break came at a great time for the Huskies as they reset and came out stronger in the second half.

Less than two minutes in, junior forward Brooke Green drove down the left side of the field, cut to the right and attempted a shot that just beat Yellowjackets keeper Kaelan Swallows, but sailed just beyond the right post.

Just over a minute later, Cedarville took a 3-0 lead when Katie Ulmer took a pass from Becca Schulenburg, turned and beat Barrows quickly at 48:05.

The Huskies responded with some of the best soccer of the season after that goal went in, and were rewarded for that effort at 56:10 when freshman midfielder Peyton Wetzel found the net with a shot from the right side of the box. Freshman midfielder Braydin Noble assisted on the goal.

“She needed one,” Kuhar said. “Again, a confidence boost (for her). The team is 100% behind each other, and so that was a fun one for the group. It would have been awesome to have her get another one there. But, it was good to have her get one.”

Noble, who picked up an assist on the goal, and freshman midfielder Lizzy Striebel both made their first career starts. Kuhar felt they both deserved the chance.

“Their workhorses in there,” said Kuhar. “That energy they bring with Lizzy up there, up top, and then Braydin kind of has owned her role in the back. I knew what I was getting when I recruited Braydin. She’s just like her sisters. I think I turned to one of my assistants and said that today. I’m like, ‘Oh, my god, she’s just like her sisters.’ She works.

“Lizzy kind of has been battling in there with a young group that we’re trying to kind of all get on page, and we’re just trying some different things to see what works, and who gels correctly. Regardless, people are getting minutes that are new to the team, and so that’s always a nice thing to see.”

The Huskies had a chance to get back within one with eight and a half minutes left, but a free kick from junior midfielder Riley Winrich was stopped by Swallow.

With just over a minute left, the Huskies had a corner kick and Wetzel appeared to score her second goal of the night, but the play was waived off. Just over 30 seconds later, the Yellowjackets got their fourth goal of the night off the foot of Maddy McCort.

Barrows finished with eight saves in the game for the Huskies. Swallow made four to earn the win for the Yellowjackets.

Up next

The Huskies will be back in action Saturday at 1 p.m. at Kearly Stadium when they take on Northwood in their final non-conference match before they get into GLIAC play.