Clare soccer drops matches to Garber, Gladwin

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

The Clare soccer team played in one of their final games of the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 2. The Pioneers were hosting Essexville Garber in a non-league game, and they came up short, 3-1.

Clare was down 2-0 at the half and the Dukes booted the first goal of the second half as well, to lead 3-0. The Pioneer’s got the final goal of the night, when Connor McNally received a through ball from Justin Harradine and McNally put it in for the score.

Tyler Thompson played in goal and got his hands on many saves.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1 Clare played at Gladwin. The Pioneers lost the Jack Pine Conference game, 4-3.

The Flying G’s booted in three goals to take a 3-1 lead, with Clare’s Carson Reihl sending one in for the Pioneers to trim it to 3-1 at the half.

Reihl also scored early in the second half, taking an assist from Tucker Rowell, making it a 3-2 contest. The Pioneers were awarded a penalty kick with a chance to tie it up, but the Gladwin goalkeeper was in position to make a save. Gladwin responded by booting in a goal the other way, to extend their lead back to 4-2.

Clare did get another penalty kick opportunity, with Kolten Pung sending this one in to pull them within 4-3.

“We had chances to tie it up, but unfortunately we just couldn't find the net,” Clare head coach Jim Bond said.

Tyler Thompson had eight saves in net for the Pioneers.

Clare (4-12 overall) hosted Shepherd on Monday and begins action in the Division 3 district today (Thursday) at Essexville Garber.