dam Zak with four minutes remaining in the first game of the season.
The Wolves had been putting shots on Birmingham United’s goal all night but only two had made it past the goalie.
Zak took aim and the ball landed in the back of the net.
It didn’t give the team an edge in the game but showed they weren’t going go down without a fight as the game ended and Birmingham won, 14-3.
‘You can’t take away from the effort they put it,? said Head Coach Brian Kaminskas.
‘They really did move up and down the field for 48 full minutes. We were a little outmatched, testing ourselves for the first game to see where we are at.?
Jon Avery scored the first goal for the Wolves eight minutes into the game and narrowed Birmingham’s lead by one point.
The Maples scored ten more goals by the time Clarkston added their second goal at the end of the third quarter.
The point came from Forbes Dever after a few other attempts earlier in the second half.
It was during the last half the boys found their footing and were more comfortable making shots and taking charge of the field.
‘They were flying around out there,? said Kaminskas.
‘The offense moved along and got better and better as the game went on.?
The team made 17 shots on the goal.
Three players stood out during the night.
‘Jeff Turner, our goalie, did a great job,? said Kaminskas. ‘Kevin Giaier did wonderful. He was our long-stick man and is a captain for us. Forbes Dever did a great job.?
Turner made seven saves for the night.
Kaminskas knows the boys will have work to do as they continue into the season, but the game gave him and the rest of the coaching staff a focus as they go into this week.
‘Clearly we have some work to do,? said Kaminskas.
The JV team beat Birmingham, 9-6.
The boys played Orchard Lake St. Mary’s on Monday night and lost, 13-1. Zak made the lone goal.
They will be on the road for the next two games.
They travel to Detroit Country Day on Friday. The JV game will begin at 5 p.m., the varsity game follows.
The Wolves face the Stoney Creek Cougars on Monday. JV begins at 5:30 p.m., varsity follows.