Clarkston soccer did not even have 24 hours to revel in their first league victory, a 2-1 win at Kimball on Sept. 15, before Eisenhower High School bested the Wolves 2-0 at home on Sept. 16.
‘We gave (Eisenhower) both goals. Those were two really bad goals we gave up,? said Clarkston Coach Mark Whitcomb.
The Wolves have struggled early in the season going 3-6-1 (1-3-1) and defensive lapses have been a problem.
Additionally, Whitcomb feels his team is too easily discouraged by goals scored on them and by missed chances on the offensive end.
But even with the slow start, the team is not without bright spots.
?(Senior goalie Barak Thomas) has been playing great,? said Whitcomb.
Thomas stopped four shots against Kimball for the win, only allowing a goal on a penalty kick.
Senior forward Joel Parrish gave Clarkston a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes against Kimball.
?(Kimball) couldn’t handle him,? said Whitcomb of the energetic Parrish.
In Whitcomb’s eyes, Parrish’s seemingly boundless energy helped draw defenders in the second half, clearing space for senior Greg Knappe’s game winning goal.
On the defensive side of the ball, Whitcomb felt senior Brett Shader’s performance, especially against Kimball, stood out.
?(Shader) works and works and works. He is smart and doesn’t bite on a lot of moves,? said Whitcomb.
Clarkston’s destiny in the league is out of their hands with league losses to Rochester Adams, Rochester High and Troy Athens, but Whitcomb still thinks his team has an outside shot at the title.
‘There’s a lot of season left and there is a ton of parity,? said Whitcomb.
With two league games this week, Clarkston will know their true standing in the OAA Division I soon. The Wolves game at Lake Orion on Sept. 20 finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News. On Sept. 22, Clarkston will entertain Rochester High at home. The Falcons claimed the teams? first meeting of the season 2-0 on Aug. 30.
In CHS soccer news away from the pitch, $9,000 was raised for both the girls and boys soccer teams at the programs annual golf outing on Sept. 17 at Liberty Golf Course.