Norse girls drop 2 out of 3 games; Lakers split pair.

Leelanau County’s two girls' soccer teams each generated good news and bad news over the past week.

Glen Lake won a game and lost another. Suttons Bay lost two games and won a third.

Last Wednesday, Suttons Bay suffered a 3-0 loss at home against Cheboygan. The next day, at Petoskey, they fell 4-2.

“Cheboygan and Petoskey were tough games,” remarked Suttons Bay coach Ryan DeFour. “We created opportunities to score in both games, but our opponents were able to finish their chances while we were not as sharp.”

The Norsemen were able to bounce back on Friday and beat Traverse City Liberty at home in Suttons Bay, 2-0. T-C Liberty is a cooperative squad comprised of girls from Traverse City St. Francis and Traverse City Christian – not unlike Suttons Bay’s cooperative team that includes players from Leland and Lake Leelanau St. Mary’s

“One positive from the week,” said DeFour, “was that (senior) Octavia Buss stepped up and played very well in all three games.” He added that (fellow senior) Kara Bunbury “was very solid in the goal for us against Liberty.”

Goals in the Petoskey game were scored by seniors Alyssa Korson and Charlotte Stowe, while Korson and freshman Kali Moyer tallied in the win over Liberty.

Now 5-2-2, the Norsemen were slated to travel to Charlevoix yesterday, April 30. They will host the Suttons Bay Invitational on Saturday morning, followed by Benzie Central on Monday afternoon.

Next Wednesday, the Norsemen will once again face their cross-town rival, Glen Lake.

The Lakers, meanwhile, managed a 4-1 victory over Forest Area last Thursday, according to coach Dorne Yeager, but the Warriors scored about 20 minutes into the first half.

Ten minutes later the Lakers answered with a goal by senior Emma Cook to make it 1-1 going into halftime.

“We were passing but our play was sloppy,” Yeager observed. “When we pass well and hustle to the ball we do well. We didn’t do either in the first half.”

The second half was a little better, the coach said. Emma Cook recorded two more goals and senior Leaha Cary scored one.

On Tuesday night, at Manistee, Glen Lake fell to the Chippewas 4-1.

“Cassie Lee (a sophomore) had the lone goal for the Lakers on a nice cross over the keeper’s head with 12 minutes left in the game,” Yeager said. “The Lakers owned the last 20 minutes of the game but just could not get it together in the first half. All of Manistee’s goals came in the first half.”

“If we can play like we did in the last 20 minutes for the whole game, we’ll be dangerous,” Yeager added.

Glen Lake’s record is now 4-3 with two more games later this week. On Friday, the Lakers play at home against Boyne City, and then travel to the Keystone fields in Traverse City Saturday against T-C Liberty.