There’s little doubt in the minds of Tami Niemi that her team would have won its game against Andover, but she’ll have to wait another few days to see how it really turns out.
The Clarkston girls varsity soccer team was up 2-0 on May 13 at the Clarkston High School Soccer Field, but rain, lightning and thunder forced the game to be postponed until May 24 at 5:30 p.m. When the game resumes the Wolves will hold a 2-0 lead and have 13:01 remaining in the first half.
The Wolves played their best soccer of the season before being rained out. Clarkston got off to a solid offensive start generating many scoring chances, and more importantly, capitalizing on them. Clarkston’s first goal came from Emily Munchiando with 26:45 remaining in the first half. The other Clarkston goal came on a great setup involving Kristen Mercado and Jordan Sinclair, who helped put Kelly Boskee alone in front to make it 2-0 Wolves. The game was called about eight minutes later.
‘They were on fire. They knew it was youth night and the first game home in six games and they were definitely psyched to play. They were pumped. I mean they did everything right. I was standing on the sidelines saying I don’t even have anything to coach,? Niemi said with a laugh.
A 2-1 loss to Farmington earlier last week put the Wolves out of the league race however. The Wolves (at press time) are 5-5-2 overall and are 3-3-2 in the OAA II.
‘The girls played well in that one too,? Niemi said. ‘We just really got unlucky. The girls were scrambling there in the last minute and they finally knocked it in.?
Clarkston has two home dates left including games with Dondero May 20 and Kimball May 25. Varsity games start at around 7 p.m.
Soccer districts begin in early June with the Wolves heading to Grand Blanc. Other teams within Clarkston’s district include Davison, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Flint Central and Flint Northern. Niemi said she expects Grand Blanc and her team to be the top teams within the bracket with the Bobcats having a possible slight edge.
‘I think having home field is big,? she said. ‘Look at how we came out the other night (against Andover).?
Last year the Wolves fell to Rochester Adams in the district final.
While the Wolves won’t carry a league title into the post season, they will bring with them two important things, Niemi said ? Liz Hardy and confidence.
Niemi said she expects Hardy to be back for districts, if not before. In the meantime, freshman Brittany Davis has been pulled up and played forward in her place, which will allow Boskee to play center-midfield.
‘They knew (when the game was called against Andover) that they were really playing well and really coming together. They were in a good mood, and they were really upbeat and positive. They were really executing well,? Niemi said.
Following the home dates to Dondero and league champion Kimball, the Wolves close out regular season play at Troy Athens.