Huskies soccer hits the road still looking for first win
Trending
HOUGHTON -- For 45 minutes Friday night, the Michigan Tech Huskies soccer team did something they had not done all season, they put together a half of soccer that looked like what coach Melissa Kuhar has been waiting for from her team.
They had played the visiting Saginaw Valley State Cardinals to a 0-0 tie with 12 shots generated, three shots on goal, four corner kicks and forcing the Cardinals into eight fouls.
From there, however, they gave up two goals a half over the rest of the weekend in losses to the Cardinals and the No. 5 Grand Valley State Lakers.
"The first half of (the) Saginaw (game) was probably the best soccer that our team and program has played since I got here," Kuhar said. "It was kind of all those pieces fell into place. We generated shots. We possessed the ball. We moved the ball from across the field and up and down.
"It’s tough that, going into the second half, we couldn’t keep that momentum going. Saginaw changed their game plan, so that definitely kind of disrupted some of what we were doing."
Against the Lakers, the Huskies fell behind 2-0 in the first half, but started to generate some offense in the latter stages of the half. Unfortunately, early in the second half, Michigan Tech had a tough six-minute sequence that led to two more Lakers' tallies.
"Against GV, they’re the No. 5 team in the nation for a reason," said Kuhar. "I feel like we stuck with them pretty well in the first half, and then kind of had that six-minute lapse in the second. That kind of hurt us, but were still generating some stuff and kind of combining.
"Again, they’re a good team, so they’ll compete for a national title like they do year in and year out. So, a tough weekend. I mean, probably two heaviest hitters in the conference to start (play)."
The Huskies have one goal this season, which is not making life easier as the team struggles to find wins. They need to find a way to finish. "That was what I preached to our team," she said. "We have to put the ball in the back of the net. We had chances. We had 10 quality attempts at putting the ball in the back of the net. They know that. I don’t even need to say it for them to realize that. The reality is if we score, that game’s a whole different thing. That’s our biggest kryptonite right now is that final, that ball hitting the back of the net, that final shot."
However, given what the Huskies accomplished in the opening 45 minutes Friday, Kuhar has a standard she can now hold her team to.
"It’s not easy to lose," she said. "It’s not easy coming off a season like last year. But, our girls are capable, and that’s what I just have to keep reminding them of. 'Hey, you showed it, right? (Against) Saginaw, you showed it in that first half. You showed what your abilities are.' I kind of joked with them. I’m like, 'Hey, now you showed me. So, I know what you’re capable of and I’m going to keep pushing you to get there.'"
Two players who are likely to be a part of that next step are sophomore midfielders Karli Koskinen and Sophie Rater.
"The two of them, Karli and Rater, have really done well in the midfield, especially (with) the new formation we’re playing," said Kuhar. "We’re kind of thin on the forward side of things with some injuries, so, Reilly Lovercheck came in and had a great game Friday, the first half, and 'Soph' and Karli really set her up. It’s just continuing to kind of find that dynamic within the attacking group.
"They have to get comfortable with each other, kind of learn their tendencies, and it’s close, right? You see that final ball is what’s missing. Soon, they’re going to kind of hit that stride of being able to find that all together and kind of piece it in to produce goals. So, it’s coming. One just has to happen, and the floodgates, I think, are going to open."
Scouting the Rangers
The Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers improved to 4-1-1 on the season last weekend with wins over Roosevelt, 5-0, and Purdue Northwest, 1-0.
Senior forward Kate Brown leads the team in scoring, with two goals and four assists for eight points through six games.
Freshman forward Mary Leininger and junior forward Ava Rizzitano both lead the team in goals with three each along with one assist. Sophomore midfielder Rilyn Breinholt also has three goals.
In goal, sophomore keeper Lindsey Ferrara has started all six games. She has a 0.68 goals against average and a .789 save percentage.
Scouting the Lakers
The Roosevelt Lakers are 0-4-2 on the season after dropping a game to Wisconsin-Parkside and one to Davenport, 3-1.
Junior midfielder Bella Perry leads the team in scoring with two goals. Freshman forward Dayami Arias, junior forward Aaliyah Leanos, and junior midfielder Regina Rosales all have one goal each.
Freshman keeper Kaylee Sarnicola has started all six games in net. She has a 2.73 goals against average and a .698 save percentage this season.
Game times
The Huskies and Rangers will battle Friday at 2 p.m. in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Sunday, the Huskies and Lakers will battle at 1 p.m. in Arlington Heights, Illinois.