On a night where winds shortened the ball’s flight and rain turned the field into mush the Clarkston varsity soccer team fought hard. The kickers came up short losing 2-0 to Rochester Adams in the districts final at Lake Orion High School on Oct.23
‘We didn’t finish the chances that we had and the few chances Rochester Adams did get they managed to finish on,? said assistant coach Liam Judd.
The two teams played to a soaky slippery stalemate in the first half as the wind blew rain across the field at a 45 degree angle. Adams? pressure seemed to be at its height when the rain pounded hardest early in the game, but junior goalie Barak Thomas made several big stops in net and senior defender Mike Holaday diffused several plays before they became serious threats.
‘Barak was outstanding, I think he was the best goalie in the district this year,? said Coach Mark Whitcomb.
Clarkston watched painfully as two breakaway shots went wide of the goal and later a goal was called back due to a hand ball.
‘I thought (senior forward Brad Wellbourn) got it with his shoulder,? said Whitcomb, ‘but the game came down to who won the loose balls, and for whatever reason (Adams) kept coming up with them.?
Clarkston has had an up and down season and seemed to be peaking at the right time going into the finals against Adams.
‘The kids learned too many life lessons this year, the OAA I is a brutal, brutal league,? said Whitcomb.
On Oct. 21 the Wolves won their district semi-final match, beating the Lake Orion Dragons for the first time in two years.
Senior forward Mike Klemm was forced to leave the game in the first half due to a large gash in his forehead. Klemm lay prostrate on the turf for several minutes until walking off the field escorted by the training staff. Fifteen minutes later, Klemm returned to the game with a large bandage adorning his forehead.
Klemm’s return was key, with the game knotted 1-1 in overtime. Klemm caught the Lake Orion goalie cheating for the crossing pass and burned a shot near post into the top corner of the net to topple the Dragons and put the Wolves into the District final.
‘The districts were tougher than the regionals would have been,? said Whitcomb.
For the season varsity soccer had a record of 9-10-2 and lost five games by one goal this season.