Advertisement

NE CITY- After settling for a scoreless tie against Harbor Springs at Walloon Lake, the Boyne City boys soccer team cooled off a red-hot Kalkaska outfit to register an impressive 3-1 victory last week. The Ramblers had their chances against Harbor Springs, but came up empty despite 14 shots on goal during regulation. Six more attempts failed to find the net in two overtime periods. Harbor Springs also had 20 shots on goal for the day, interestingly enough in the same breakdown as Boyne City- 14 in regulation, and six in the overtimes. Jesse Place, Tyler Urman, Travis Rienhardt and Ryan Clubine were credited with outstanding games on defense for the Ramblers. Mike Fox was untouchable in goal. Beau Kroondyk and Sterling Adgate displayed a great deal of hustle in winning the ball for the Ramblers in the midfield, but unfortunately it came to naught. "We had our chances to score, but just couldn't put the ball into the net,"Boyne City soccer coach Nick Baic said. "Other than that, we played a real nice game. We won a majority of the free balls, and our passing is getting much better.Ó The Ramblers had much better luck against the Blazers, who had been on a goal-scoring rampage lately, including a rousing 6-5 conquest in their last game. Kalkaska had the Ramblers back on their heels early when the Blazers scored the first goal of the game only eight minutes into the first half. A long ball was aided by winds gusting at 30 miles per hour, and it sailed over the heads of the Rambler defenders, and right to the waiting foot of Kalkaska's forward, who booted it home past Boyne City's goalie. Battling a stiff wind, Clubine played excellent defense in turning away the majority of Kalkaska attacks with some extremely strong kicks. Kalkaska managed only five shots on goal in the first half. The Ramblers tied the score at 1-1 when Adgate tallied on an assist from Clubine. Tom Halstead nailed what turned out to be the game-winning goal for the Ramblers with 14 minutes remaining in the game, taking a nice cross from Blake Kroondyk. A minute later, Kroondyk scored an insurance goal for the Ramblers on a cross from Phil Conklin. Boyne out-shot the Blazers, 20-9, for the game. Fox had six saves and Ryan Kasper made three in goal for the Ramblers. Urman had a solid game on defense. "We moved the ball well, and got shots off,"coach Baic said. "With offense like tonight, and defense like against Harbor Springs, we will be tough to beat.Ó Boyne improved its league record to 2-0-1.