October 20, 2018

LocalSportsJournal.com

The Orchard View boys soccer team battled the elements on Saturday and pulled out an exciting 5-4 victory over Oakridge in the Division 3 district finals at Orchard View High School.

Orchard View’s No. 7 Kody Goudzwaard and Maverick Carlisle celebratie the goal. photo/Leo Valdez

The Cardinals now advance to the Division 3 regional semifinals on Wednesday against Ogemaw Heights at Clare High School at 8 p.m.

The victory guarantees at least one trophy for the Cardinals, who are now an impressive 16-4-1 on the season.

“We are really getting kids to commit to the system,” said Orchard View Coach Kyle Skodack, whose team finished second behind powerful Western Michigan Christian in the Lakes 8 Conference in the regular season. “Everyone on the team knows their role, even if they just go in for five or 10 minutes. They give 100 percent. That’s kind of nice.”

Both teams got on the scoreboard early.

OV struck first, just over a minute into the contest, with a goal from Devante Glover. Oakridge answered just 23 seconds later when Christoffer Simonsen found the net.

Then the game stopped for 45 minutes due to hail and thunder in the area.

Oakridge took a 2-1 lead when the game resumed on a goal by Mason Wever.

But Orchard View answered with two goals in the next seven minutes. The first game from Brady Bowen, who scored on a penalty kick. The second was scored by Maverick Carlisle.

Orchard View led 3-2 at halftime.

Wever scored in a rebound for Oakridge about five minutes into the second half, tying the game at 3-3.

Orchard View went ahead again about a minute later on a goal by Roger McKenzie. Oakridge tied the game 4-4 with about eight minutes left on a successful penalty kick by Christoffer Simonsen.

McKenzie scored the-game winner for the Cardinals with just under three minutes left, after taking a pass from Glover.

The Cardinals outshot the Eagles 15-11. Orchard View goalie Landon Tyler made seven saves while Oakridge keeper Brandon Jones stopped eight.