They say dog is man’s best friend, but a crossbar on the north end goal of Karl Richter soccer field in Holly ended up being Clarkston’s at the end of the day Thursday. Clarkston keeper Demaree Wells was aided by the top iron post on two Lakeland key scoring opportunities where the Eagles (2-12-4) couldn’t find the net, giving the Wolves (6-13-1) a 1-0 win in the district semifinals.
Clarkston advanced to play the Grand Blanc in the district final Saturday.
Each team had plenty of chances to net the game-winner, but Clarkston capitalized first when Courtney Meharg booted the ball nearly the entire length of the Lakeland zone on a break, beating Eagles keeper Sam Miller with 21:13 remaining. Wells stopped all 11 shots the Eagles gave her and the two from premium scoring position by Lakeland’s Katie McNulty.
‘We’ve been talking about that all season. She’s a sophomore and that’s her fourth or fifth goal. That’s why she plays forward, because she’ll attack the ball and shoot it,? Clarkston coach Sarah Smith said.
Although the Wolves earned a berth in the district finals, Smith felt the girls could have played with more passion.
‘It’s a win, (but) it was an ugly win,? Smith said.
‘There was no intensity in the first half. We came out better in the second half. I still feel like we were a little bit in slow motion.?
The Wolves came out differently than they had in an 8-0 win May 29 in the district opener against Waterford Kettering.
‘We were intense in the wrong way. It was just kickball and yelling today. Against Kettering, we had intensity in the right way,? Smith said.
Smith was certain Clarkston would return and play strong in the finals against the Bobcats. After scouting both potential opponents for the finals, Grand Blanc and Milford, Smith decided both teams to be too far out of character because of injuries to get a significant gauge of either for a finals showdown.
While Wells owned the net for Clarkston after making the jump from junior varsity late in the season, Lakeland coach Curt Whitefield was forced to pull up six members of the Eagles? lower ranks. Four Lakeland starters missed the game due to attending senior prom.
Whitefield remained pleased with his girls? performances throughout this season.
‘These girls have fired up toward the end of this season. We’ve had a lot of things we’ve had to battle through with injuries,? he said.
‘What you got was the best game we’ve played this season with just incredible opportunities to tie or win this game. It’s actually nice to end the season on a note like this, but it’s kind of bittersweet because we think we could have won.?
The Eagles? battle plan to stick to the outside of the field may have been executed too well, Whitefield said.
‘The only thing I could begin to criticize is that we stuck to our game plan and hit the corners. At the end when we’re really trying to score, the girls were looking toward the goal a little bit more. They did make some good moves up the side,? he said.
In 2006, Clarkston lost in the district finals to Rochester Adams. Look for the results of the district finals at www.clarkstonnews.com.