GIRLS SOCCER: Clarkston takes first step with district win over Carman-Ainsworth
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
FLINT — Clarkston has never captured a district crown in girls soccer. The Wolves would love nothing more than to change that this season.
Clarkston took the first step in that direction Tuesday in its Division 1 district opener at Flint Carman-Ainsworth. The Wolves rallied back from an early deficit to oust Carman-Ainsworth, 3-1, to advance to Thursday’s district semifinals.
“We’ve never won a district before. I know we have come close and reached the district finals several times,” offered Clarkston coach Sarah Wasilk. “We lost to Grand Blanc 2-1 about 5-6 years ago in a really good district final. We just came up short. We have lost to Rochester Adams in the district finals several times. But we have never been able to get over (the hump).”
Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
The Wolves (10-6-4) earned a 5 p.m. Thursday district semifinal date with Flushing at Davison. Grand Blanc will face off with Lake Orion in Thursday’s other semifinal with the winners squaring off Saturday.
“We’ll take it one game a t a time, but we really want to win it this year,” said Wasilk, who is in her eighth season at the helm. “I think this is the first time since I’ve been here that the girls actually believe that they have a chance. There is no (clear-cut) favorite in the district this season. The past couple of years we lost to Adams in the district finals, but I don’t know if the girls really believed that they had a chance to win it. They do this year.”
Senior forward Lindsey Adams, bound for Division II University of Indianapolis to further her soccer career, led Clarkston by scoring twice with an assist against Carman-Ainsworth. Shelby Hopper added the other goal, while Karrie Gryesiak notched two assists for the Wolves.
Katie Miller, who has picked up her play in recent weeks and has eight shutouts on the season, made two saves for Clarkston to gain the win behind the pipes.
“The first few games this season, she wasn’t playing with the level of confidence that we had hoped,” said Wasilk. “But she has been playing well. She’s playing with a lot more confidence lately.”
Clarkston, which finished third in the OAA White Division this season just a point behind co-champions Berkley and Royal Oak, outshot Carman-Ainsworth by a commanding 15-3 margin. Still, the Wolves fell behind early when the Cavaliers (11-7-3) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jasmine Jones.
Clarkston’s Adams scored the game-tying and go-ahead goals later in the first half and Hopper provided the insurance tally just before halftime, as all four goals were scored in the first half.
Wasilk will coach against her alma mater, Flushing, in Thursday’s district semifinals.
“The girls are very focused right now. They really want to make it to the finals and give ourselves a chance,” said Wasilk. “I think we have some players that do not want to lose and you need that, especially from your seniors.”
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