Meg Donnay helped make sure the Brandon varsity girls soccer team started their Flint Metro League season on the right foot.
Donnay, a junior, accounted for both goals in the contest as the Blackhawks shut out visiting Holly 2-0 in a Mar. 27 game. Brandon improved their record to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in league play.
Junior goaltender Elizabeth Kennedy stopped all nine Holly shots in net for the Blackhawks.
Donnay’s first goal of the game came about four minutes into the contest, when she found the upper left-hand corner of the goal to put the Blackhawks up 1-0. She then sealed the Brandon win by connecting on a header with about two minutes to go in the game, on an assist from sophomore Jolene Back.
Previously, the Blackhawks competed in the Lake Orion Tournament Saturday, Mar. 25, and finished in fifth place. The Blackhawks lost their first game of the tournament 3-1 to the host Dragons, and then lost 1-0 to Plymouth.
The Blackhawks escaped an winless showing in the tournament with a shootout victory against Utica in their final game. The two teams were tied at two at the end of regulation, then in the shootout, Brandon scored on two of their four shots, while Utica missed all four of their shots.
This year’s edition of the Blackhawks has a youthful look, with three seniors (Lindsey Whitton, Emma Donnay and Anne McCabe) and six freshmen (Aimee Soave, Jessica Lane, Kara Craig, Lauren Schumacher, Stacy Woloszyk and Braelyn Ocwieja) on the varsity.
However, Brandon coach Greg Back said the freshmen should blend in well with their more experienced teammates.
‘I think they’ll be a good addition,? he said. ‘They’re not one-dimensional players ? they can play multiple positions.?
As a whole, Back said the Blackhawks are well-equipped to make a solid showing in the Flint Metro League this season.
‘If injuries don’t play a role, we should finish in the top half of the league and push for the league title,? he said. ‘If we stay focused on soccer, we should have a good team this season.?