On the board: Clarkston, Lake Orion finally find offense in 1-1 draw
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — As a rivalry, Lake Orion and Clarkston would rather not settle for a tie. But based on the circumstances of both teams, anything positive in the early stages of the season is a welcome commodity.
Both teams converted second-half goals in a 1-1 OAA Red Division girls soccer match Tuesday at Clarkston. It was the first goal of the season for the host Wolves and the first league point for Lake Orion.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: Lake Orion's Megan Malloy shields the ball away from Clarkston's Caitlin Kirby during Tuesday's OAA Red Division match. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
Clarkston is in its first season in the OAA Red Division, a far cry to where the Wolves were at four years ago where they won just a single game. Last season Clarkston finished 9-0-1 in the OAA-White to win its first league title but welcomes the stiffer competition of the OAA-Red this season.
Lake Orion (0-2-1, 0-2-1) is trying to integrate 14 new players as part of a rebuilding season.
The two came into Tuesday’s contest with similar struggles, and that is trying to find the finishing touch on offense.
“I have coached high school sports for a long, long time and the one thing I learned is that when you are trying to work in a lot of new players, and we have 14 new players this season, that it takes time,” said Lake Orion coach Ken Snage. “We had our tournament canceled and we lost the (Waterford) Kettering game due to weather. I don’t want to make excuses, but we just haven’t played many games and it’s already the middle of April.
SHIFTING: Clarkston's Lisa Lyons moves away from Lake Orion's Katy Wagner during Thursday's OAA-Red clash. StaffPhoto | Dan Stickradt.
“We actually opened up with a league game before the break with Rochester Adams, one of the top teams in the state, and lost that one 4-0,”continued Snage. “Normally, I like to get a few games in before the league to try some different things and to get some experience. It’s not like two years ago when we had a veteran team. We’re really young with a lot of girls trying to get used to the speed of the game on varsity. We are getting better, but you would rather have those (non-league) games to help the girls gain some experience. All three of our games have been league games.”
Clarkston, which held an 8-5 edge in shots, 4-3 on frame, controlled play for long stretches in the first half and during the final 20 minutes of the second half. The Wolves still found themselves trailing in the second half.
Maddie Hutchinson finally got Lake Orion on the board on its first shot of the second half with 28:18 to play. Hutchinson broke free and finished off a feed from junior Katy Wagner from 12 yards out.
Clarkston again picked up the pace in the final 25 minutes. The resiliency finally paid off with 6:52 to go, when junior forward Lisa Lyons picked up a loose ball just inside the penalty box and laced a shot off the right post that squirted across the goal line and just inside the opposite post.
The goal came after 233 minutes of scoreless soccer this season for Clarkston.
“This is a lot like our other games. We are applying some pressure, but we just aren’t finishing,” said Clarkston coach Sarah Wasilk. “I do like what I see at times. We are possessing the ball and are playing solid defense. But I think it’s going to take some time in this league. We did a nice job against Rochester, but we had just one breakdown and lost 1-0.We tied (North Farmington).That game we didn’t play all that well, but we still didn’t let them score (in a 0-0 draw).
“Tonight was our first goal. That was positive because we fell behind 1-0 even though I thought we carried play, and we fought back,” added Wasilk. “I think that will help us. I know playing these types of teams will help us in the long run as well.”
Katie Miller finished with two saves in goal for Clarkston, while Haley Barnes made three saves for Lake Orion.
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Category: Clarkston, High School, Lake Orion, Prep Wraps
