Local Sports Journal
Western Michigan Christian’s girls soccer team pulled out another close one with rival Muskegon Catholic on Thursday night.
The host Warriors stayed unbeaten in the River Valley Conference with a 3-2 victory over the Crusaders in a game played at Warrior Field.
The game’s scoring was contained in the opening half.
Jessica Ladd gave MCC a lead less than 6 minutes into the first half.
Near the midpoint of the half, Alexys Riksen scored the first of her two goals to knot the score at 1-all. Mykala Denison drew the assist. Riksen (goal) and Denison (assist) hooked up 12 minutes later to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Six minutes later, Julie Merz scored for WMC with an assist from Alli Langeland and it was 3-1.
Before the half ended, MCC’s Katherine Salisz scored to pull the visitors to within a goal.
“What a tough game but a good game,” WMC coach David Hulings said. “It was competitive the whole 80 minutes. I think since the last time we played both teams improved about the same.
“Catholic was quite prepared today,” Hulings said. “Our three seniors in the back and sophomore Alyssa (Wright) did a great job of stopping a well organized attack.”
WMC is 8-1-1 overall, 5-0 in the league.
