By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com

LUDINGTON — It was scoreless at the end of the first half on Wednesday night and the Ludington soccer team was struggling on their home pitch.

But the Orioles turned things around in the second half and scored four goals to record a 4-0 shutout of the Ravenna Bulldogs in the West Michigan Conference.

“Ravenna was very organized, very disciplined,” said Ludington coach Kris Anderson. “They made it difficult for us to kind of get into a flow of the game. Our touches weren’t as sharp as they usually are in the first half. We couldn’t shake Ravenna, and get the space we wanted, or get the pass in the right place that we wanted to get it to.

“So, it was one of those nights where we weren’t very sharp but we just had to keep grinding through. Our boys showed the poise and the fortitude to keep hanging in there in a game where maybe you’re not playing your best.”

Eventually, things swung the Orioles’ way and they were able to capitalize on the opportunities they created, with Parker Wendt and Spencer Holmes finding the back of the net twice each in the second period.

While they struggled offensively through the first 40 minutes, the Orioles were stout in the midfield defensively and prevented the Bulldogs from scoring.

In fact, the Bulldogs finished the game with just four shots on goal, and Orioles’ keeper Caleb Sheldon turned back all of them to notch the shutout.

“We stayed the course and just waited until it came together, which happened in the second half,” Anderson said.

Ryan Kandalec again stepped up in the defensive midfield to lead the charge for Ludington and started distributing the ball well. Jonah Sweet was also stout defensively.

The Orioles broke the scoreless tie almost three minutes into the second half, on a shot by Wendt, and they tallied two more separated by nine minutes.

Ludington outshot the Bulldogs 12-4.

Credited with assists were Aiden Malburg, Yebe Boerema, Alex Smith and Kandalec.

“We have no room for error,” Anderson said of the Orioles’ chances of winning the conference. “We have North Muskegon on Monday, and they’re right behind us.”

First, though, the Orioles (12-4, 7-1 WMC) face Spring Lake on the road Thursday in a non-conference game.