By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com
MANISTEE — Getting back to playing their style of soccer was the goal for the Manistee Mariners after their 6-0 loss at Montague to start the week, and they have.
After bouncing back with a close victory on the road at Whitehall in their next match the Mariners rolled to a decisive 5-0 non-conference win Thursday over Glen Lake.
Playing their third game in four days, the Mariners were understandably tired and looked lethargic through much of the first half at Mariner Field.
“You could see it. Three games in four days, it’s expected,” Manistee coach Brandon Prince said. “But they grinded through it. They did a nice job tonight winning the balls when they needed to and playing good defense. We didn’t let anything through. The couple that snuck through, Grayson (Prince, the Mariners’ goalkeeper) was out to take care of.
“We need rest, but to get a 5-0 win at the end of a long week like that, going through some ups and downs … it’s good to see. They fought hard, especially those starting 11. They knew I was going to make them run.”
Despite showing tired legs, the Mariners scored three goals in the first half which all but decided the issue.
Luke Senters notched the first on an unassisted goal with 26:10 remaining in the first half.
Three minutes later Will Somsel was on the receiving end of a pass from Luke Smith, a team captain, and headed the ball into the net as Manistee’s lead grew to 2-0 at the 23-minute mark.
Mason Robinson scored an unassisted goal with less than two minutes to play, and the Mariners went into the break with a 3-0 cushion.
Glen Lake then gave the Mariner a penalty kick at 24:30 of the second half, and Jaret Edmondson buried the shot for a 4-0 Manistee lead.
Senters collected his second goal of the game, also unassisted, with just 1:14 left in the contest.
The Mariners improved to 8-2-2 on the season and will be home again Monday with a West Michigan Conference battle against Orchard View.
