LocalSportsJournal.com

FREMONT — Quite a turnround from earlier in the season. 

After a 1-2 start, and then a two-game losing streak, the Ludington boys soccer team was once again reeling a little. But, times have indeed changed. 

The Orioles recorded a 4-2 victory over Fremont on the road Monday night and climbed into sole possession of first place in the West Michigan Conference. 

Only three conference games remain on the schedule, and the Orioles know they can’t afford a slip up down the stretch if they want to be crowned champions. 

“North Muskegon and Fremont are right behind us,” said Ludington coach Kris Anderson. “So, we have to keep playing hard these next three games because any blemish, any mistake could cost us.”

It was a 1-1 tie at the end of the first half, and then the Orioles scored three unanswered goals in the second to pull away for the win. 

Fremont notched the first goal off a corner kick by John Vissia 25 minutes into the match to take a 1-0 lead. It would be the Packers one and only time holding the advantage. 

Ludington answered 10 minutes later when a ball deflected off a defender and into the Packers’ net. 

The Orioles started out the second half with a flurry. Five minutes in they made the game 2-1, five minutes later added another goal, and five minutes after that made the game 4-1. 

Fremont’s Silas Rinne finished a ball from Joey Mansfield with just over a minute to play in the match. 

“Fremont is very aggressive,” Anderson said. “Their midfield and front line made it very difficult. They were very challenging, and they put us under a lot of pressure. I thought we rose to the challenge tonight and played well. They were man marking Spencer (Holmes) and Parker (Wendt) most of the game and we had to make adjustments.” 

Spencer Holmes and Utlan Ryan scored two goals apiece as the Packers tried to take away high scoring Parker Wendt.

Ryan found himself open in space as the Packers focused on Wendt, and he made the most of his opportunities. 

Ludington were outshot by Fremont, 24-23. Orioles’ keeper Gabe Gamez played most of the game and finished with 20 saves. 

The Orioles improve to 11-4 overall and 6-1 in the conference, and will host Ravenna in another conference game Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Fremont drops to 13-1-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the conference, and next travels to Montague in the conference on Wednesday.