LocalSportsJournal.com
 
MUSKEGON — Ludington’s boys soccer team struggled in the first half Wednesday night, but picked things up in the second and produced a 3-0 shutout win over Oakridge in the West Michigan Conference.
 
The game was played at Oakridge. It was Ludington’s third straight win.
 
Steele Stowe scored the only goal the Orioles would need after receiving a ball from Nate Pearson.
 
Pearson contributed a goal himself with Alex Smith providing the assist.
 
Jayden Mirretti tacked on the last goal, with an assist from Nate Traeger.
 
“We really struggled in the first half. A lot of it was just mentality,” said Ludington coach Kris Anderson. “We were controlling the game.
“If you let a team stay in a game, they gain confidence. One mistake, and now you’re on the short end, and you’re pressing. We kind of had to regroup at halftime.”
 
That the Orioles did, cleaning things up in the second half, and getting after it more aggressively.
 
Ludington goalkeeper Gabe Gamez was in net for the majority of the contest and finished one save on one shot on goal.
 
“We have some tough conference games ahead of us,” Anderson said. “So, it’s good that we’ve kind of got a little win streak going.”
 
Next on the schedule for Ludington (8-3-3 overall, 4-1-1 WMC) is a non-conference home game with Cedar Springs on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Cedar Springs knocked Ludington out of the districts last year.
 
Oakridge (2-9-2 overall, 0-6-1 WMC) travels to Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian on Friday.