Clare girls’ soccer team opens season with tie

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

The Clare girls’ soccer team got the new season underway Tuesday, March 24. The Lady Pioneers were hosting Beaverton in Jack Pine Conference action, and the two sides played to a 2-2 tie.

The Lady Beavers scored the first goal of the game just three minutes in.

“We failed to clear a ball out from in front of our goal,” head coach Jim Bond said of the first goal. “We had a couple of unfortunate touches that ended up at a Beaverton players foot and she did not miss.”

Clare did answer with 14 minutes to go in the first half, when Ivy Russell converted on a free kick to make it 1-1.

It stayed 1-1 well into the second half. Beaverton went back in front on a free kick, but Clare again had an answer on another Russell free kick to knot the game up at 2-2.

“There were opportunities for both teams, but no one else scored again and it ended in a 2-2 tie,” Bond said.

Kaitlin Zeilinger had six saves in the game for the Pioneers.

On Thursday, March 26, Clare lost a home Jack Pine game against Gladwin. The Pioneers were shorthanded in this one, eventually falling to the Lady G’s 3-0.

“We were down four players for this game and only had three subs,” Bond said. “Gladwin scored first off of a corner. The ball went directly to our player off the corner kick, and she tried to volley it away, but unfortunately it caromed off her leg at a strange angle, actually went slightly backwards and into the goal. Even if she tried, I'm pretty sure she would never be able to do this again.”

Gladwin scored again with about eight minutes to play in the half, when a bouncing ball escaped Zeilinger’s reach.

“It was a crazy high bounce that just caught Kaitlin off guard, another strange goal,” Bond said.  “They scored a third goal with five minutes left in the half when we failed to clear a ball on the right side of the field. A Gladwin player got to the ball and crossed it to one of her teammates who then had a nice shot into the corner of the net.”

While that goal made it 3-0, Clare was able to play even with Gladwin the rest of the way, though they weren’t able to net a goal of their own.

“We calmed down and played much better in the second half despite playing much of it without subs due to injuries,” Bond said. “We had the ball in their half of the field for much of the half, but unfortunately, we just couldn't find a way to finish.”

Zeilinger had 13 saves in this contest.

Clare (0-1-1 overall, 0-1-1 Jack Pine) returns to action at home on Tuesday against Pinconning, they host Ogemaw Heights on Wednesday and they’ll stay at home April 13 to take on Reed City.

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