After a slow start to the season, the Clarkston girls soccer team rallied around a group-oriented mantra.
‘They’re really starting to come together as a team. We’re not so much focused on winning as we are on communication, intensity and transition,? coach Sarah Smith said.
‘We set team goals and that’s our focus for each game. Since we’ve started this, maybe it’s taken the pressure of, ‘win, win, win? off of them. It seems to be working so far.?
The Wolves responded last week, picking up their first win of the season in a 3-0 win over Waterford Mott April 20 and rebounding from a home loss to Auburn Hills Avondale to pick up a 2-1 win over Farmington Thursday.
The Wolves wasted no time getting on the board in their first OAA division II victory. Courtney Meharg took a pass behind Falcons keeper Kelly Burgess and kicked it home at 30:07 of the first half.
The Falcons responded quickly when Clarkston keeper Beth Parks mishandled a long-range shot from Karen Piasecki two minutes later.
Laura Gabriel netted the eventual game-winning goal at 30:41 of the second half when she collected a long rebound left by Burgess from a shot by Brittany Davis.
Farmington (5-2, 2-2 OAA II) coach Glenn Breuhan was happy with the Falcons? efforts.
‘We played well enough to win, but obviously the outcome wasn’t the way we wanted. We just didn’t get the breaks and we didn’t finish,? he said.
‘We’ve definitely come together as a team and we’re all here for the same reason.?
‘In the past, we’ve struggled in the last 10 minutes of the game. Tonight we played a little bit better at the end. Most of our games have been close enough that they could have gone either way.?
‘Coming into this game, we weren’t expecting anything. We came to have fun and work on everything and that really helped us. We had main goals and our main focus wasn’t to win, it was to play our best,? Clarkston midfielder Kate Przybycien said.
‘It’s definitely our team players, we all have really good attitudes and we want to be here for the love of the game. It’s not just about winning, even though it’s a nice plus, you’ve got to go out and play for the game and that will bring a win,? Clarkston outside midfielder Caitlin Smith said.
The Wolves? (2-5, 1-4 OAA II) first league win will stick with Smith.
‘I’m so impressed with the way my team played as a whole unit. Everyone on the bench was involved as well as everyone on the field,? she said.
‘The whole entire team stands out to me. I’ll remember this game for a long time.?
The close game also had a tight shot count where Clarkston picked up the pace, but the Falcons held an 11-8 edge.
‘We’ve done a lot of talking as a team (because) a lot of girls on our team like to pass the ball and don’t want to be the one with all the glory. We had a lot of discussion and said ‘no one is going to be mad at you if you score.? They’re communicating a lot better at the top and knowing when to pass and shoot. We’ve practiced that a lot,? Smith said.
Clarkston was set to face off with another Falcons team, from Rochester, Monday. Look for the results online at www.clarkstonnews.com, or read the May 9 print edition.