HOT START: Marquette Soccer Wins Four Matches
(Photos courtesy of MSHS Varsity Soccer)
TRAVERSE CITY---The Marquette High School boys soccer team beat the heat over the weekend and opened the season by winning four soccer matches in lower Michigan.
Playing under scorching conditions, the Redmen won a quad tournamrent in Traverse City on Friday, then pulled off a win over Gaylord on Saturday.
“To come away from this weekend 4-0 is an impressive start. The boys really fought hard on Friday in 90° heat with three games in a row. Even with that I was most proud of their effort against Gaylord. Coming back from two goals down and winning at the end showed a lot of heart."
On Friday, Marquette started the quad tournament with the host Traverse City Central. Junior Max Dawson got the scoring started four minutes into the game off a pass from senior Nick Lindberg. TCC answered with their own goal right before halftime. Dawson then scored his second goal off another Lindberg assist with five minutes remaining to seal the victory. Junior Isaac Johnson tended net making eight saves.
Marquette then cruised to a victory over Manistee on the mercy rule, 8-0.
Junior Lamb Ngafeeson started the scoring off an Axel Vermaat (senior) and Ethan Sandstrom (sophomore) assist. Dawson then scored twice before halftime both assisted by Vermaat with senior Zane Phillips also helping on one of those.
Second half scores came from Junior Ezra Pickard assisted by Dawson, Senior Enzo Stabile assisted by Pickard, Dawson from Lindberg, Vermaat from Ngafeeson, and Vermaat from junior Evan Sysko. Senior Harrison Anthos and Johnson shared net duties not facing any shots.
On Saturday, the Redmen traveled over to Gaylord for a head-to-head matchup and an exciting finish. Gaylord opened up the scoring two minutes in off a free kick. Max Dawson evened the score on a break away which was passed to him from Lindberg.
Gaylord would put up two more goals before the half for a 3-1 lead.
Marquette came back. Eight minutes into the second half Ezra Pickard pulled the Redmen to within 1 off another Lindberg assist. With 17 minutes to go, senior Hayden Byma converted a penalty kick to tie the game up. Then with one minute to go Dawson again scored on a break away from a Nick Lindberg pass. Harrison Anthos tended net facing 11 shots.
Marquette will have its home opener on Tuesday against Boyne City. the game will start at 5:00.
Photo - Isaac Johnson (#1) battles for a ball vs Boyne City
Photo - Hayden Byma on right goes for a steal vs Gaylord
Photo - Max Dawson (#25) scores one of his 10 goals over the weekend - this one vs Gaylord. He also finished with two assists.
