Strange Game tonight in Fowlerville where we played our best match of the season. Looking at the score you wouldn't think that was the case, but if you were at the game you saw some very strong play from the team tonight. They demonstrated their ability to possess the ball and create chances. And in the end they will have come away from this game, bruised in the win/loss record but with a level of confidence that they had been lacking earlier in the season.

The first 5-10 minutes of the game we were a bit frazzled and having a difficult time coping with the speed of the Gladiators. But then the team pulled it together and started playing the way that we knew they could play. From that point forward it was a game where we were controlling the majority of the play, except for a couple of gaps in concentration. Mid-way thru the half, Freshman Gage Flanner dropped a cross in over the keeper's head to collect the first goal of his high school career. By the end of the half, we had outplayed Fowlerville but they had outscored us, 3-1.

The second half picked up where the first half had left off. We had the lion's share of possession and control but were just not able to get it in the back of the net. Then, with about twenty minutes to go we took our foot off the gas just a bit and Fowlerville was able to steal another goal. With the score at 4-1, the players seemed to lose the wind in their sails and Fowlerville took adavantage for another two tallies. 

Again, not a great game for our Win/Loss record but it was encouraging to see that we could compete and play a passing-possession style of game. 

Stats at a Glance:
11 Shots at Goal
Ionia goal: Gage Flanner (1st career goal)
Goalkeeper Kyle Jones: 13 saves

Record: 0-4-0

Next Game: Home vs Eaton Rapids, Thursday, September 16.