BOYS SOCCER: Clarkston looking to find missing goal-scoring magic in postseason
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
CLARKSTON — If Clarkston is to win its third straight district title this season, the Wolves will have to solve a riddle: Who will simply score goals?
Clarkston entered the season as the pick to win the OAA Red Division, as the Wolves brought back a bevy of talent and perhaps more players than anyone in the league. Although Clarkston has controlled play in most of its contests this season, that has not translated into wins.
Clarkston finished the regular season with a 5-3-5 record, but only 1-2-4 in the league to finish a disappointing sixth of eight schools with seven points. Troy Athens (19), Troy (10), Rochester Stoney Creek (9), Berkley (9), Rochester Adams (8), North Farmington (6) and Birmingham Seaholm (4) made up the rest of the standings.
“I wish I had an answer,” sighed third-year Clarkston coach Ian Jones. “We are creating chances in every game. We just can’t seam to find the back of the net with consistency this year. Last year scoring was not a problem.”
Clarkston finished 13-4-2 a year ago.
The Wolves lost 11 players to graduation and last year’s starting goalkeeper, Brendan Willis, moved over the Vardar MLS Academy team for his senior year.
Still, the cupboard is far from bare.
Senior Mason Walsh, a 6-foot-4 goalkeeper/midfielder, transferred over from Waterford Oakdale Christian Academy and has spent a great deal of the minutes between the pipes. In front of him is fourth-year starter Loghlan Gray anchoring the defense.
In the midfield, Richie Ludwig turned down some offers to take up residency with some MLS Academy clubs and is one of the top 10 sophomores in the state playing high school soccer. Juniors Jacob Murray and Dylan Walker both returned to the midfield, while sophomore midfielder/goalkeeper Connor Laming also started games last year and has matured into an even better player this season.
Senior forward Nick Merritt returned up top after being a double-digit goal scorer last season, while junior Ryan Bovee (M/D) has emerged as the top newcomer. Junior Nate Thomas (D) and seniors Gunnar Karlstrom (D), Harris Barnes (D/M), Andres Gerard (D), Trevor Ludwig (D) and Liam Zimmerman (D) have also played well.
“I think if we can find a way to place the ball in the back of the net, I think we can win our district,” said Jones. “That’s been our (Achilles heel) all season. We dominate but can’t score and we end up with a draw or lose by a goal. I think we’ve scored more than two goals in a game only one time this season. We have also seen some very good goalkeepers this year. But we should have scored way more goals based on the amount of chances we’ve created.
“I still think we have a very talented side and I think we have the players that can lead us (far into the postseason),” added Jones. “The talent is here. This is probably one of the most talented teams we’ve had here at Clarkston.”
Entering the state tournament, Clarkston has outscored the opposition 19-9 with five shutouts over 13 games. On the opposite side, the Wolves have been shutout three times.
In league play, Clarkston scored seven goals and yielded seven goals and the only league win was 2-0 over Rochester Adams. Outside of the league, Clarkston is 4-1-1 with a 12-2 scoring edge.
Since first starting its program in 1983, the Wolves have captured eight district titles — 1990, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2018 and 2019 — with the last two being the only time Clarkston has won in consecutive seasons.
The Wolves also reached the Division 1 state title game in 2007 before falling to a nationally-ranked East Kentwood side, 2-0.
Last year Clarkston was ousted by state-ranked Novi Detroit Catholic Central, 2-1, in the regional semifinals. The Wolves also lost in the regional finals in 1990, 1992, and 2014.
Clarkston will open up Division 1 district play Thursday at home at 7 p.m. against Rochester Adams. The Wolves rallied to defeat Adams in a shootout in the 2017 pre-district 3-2, while Clarkston also ousted the Highlanders 2-0 in the district finals in 2018.
“We had a strong match against them earlier in the season, and we’re hoping we can put it altogther in the tournament (this year),” added Jones.
And perhaps solve a riddle.
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