LocalSportsJournal.com
BIG RAPIDS — One goal wasn’t enough Thursday night.
Not when Cedar Springs gained a 2-0 lead early into the second half and eventually picked up a 5-1 victory over Ludington in the Division 2 district final in Big Rapids.
Playing from behind is never easy. It puts a different complexion on the game, and puts a greater amount of pressure on the team that’s trailing. Which is where the Orioles found themselves after falling into a 3-0 hole in the second half, and never could find an answer to the Red Hawks’ defense.
Cedar Springs took a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game and staved off a late push by the Orioles to go into the half with that lead.
The Red Hawks notched their second goal with five minutes gone in the second half, and managed to prevent the Orioles from getting good looks.
“Giving up goals early in each half are killers,” Ludington coach Kris Anderson said. “It changes any momentum that you’re trying to establish. Cedar Springs did a good job. They created a dangerous opportunity (in the first half) and they capitalized on it. We had a great stretch toward the end of the first half where we created a lot of dangerous opportunities, but we just couldn’t get the equalizer.”
Aidan Malburg finally broke through to put the Orioles on the board with about 20 minutes left, with Spencer Holmes being credited with the assist.
Ludington closes out the season with a 16-6 record overall and 8-2 in the West Michigan Conference for second place behind Fremont.
