Marquette’s Hunter Sandstrom, right, chases after the ball with teammate Indigo Catalano running alongside during a game played against Traverse City West at the Kaufman Sports Complex in Marquette on Saturday. (Journal photo by Travis Nelson)
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MARQUETTE — The Marquette boys soccer team knew what it was getting itself into facing off with Traverse City West at Kaufman Field on Saturday afternoon.
TC West has built a strong program, and in this game, established a big lead early to defeat the Redmen 4-0.
The Titans controlled the game in just about every aspect, and it was rare that the Redmen were even able to get an offensive look. MSHS was behind the 8-ball after having to play defense almost exclusively, and the visitors took advantage on the scoreboard.
Marquette’s Kaleb Chipelewski attempts to advance the ball in front of Traverse City West’s Joe Rawlin during their game played at the Kaufman Sports Complex in Marquette on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Mary Sysko)
“They’re a well established team, and we knew that they were going to push us hard,” Marquette coach Dan Salmon said. “We were just hoping that we could run with them, but at the end of the day, I think in the second half we were able to do that.
“In the first half, they really flexed their muscles and showed us what they were made of.”
It took not even five minutes for Traverse City to start firing on offense. Marquette goalkeeper Edan Hautamaki kept the Redmen in it as much as he could early, but the Titans just proved to be too much on that end of the field. By the end of the game, Hautamaki faced 27 shots.
In the sixth minute, the Titans were able to break the scoreless tie off the foot of Keegan Smith, with an assist from Jackson Cote.
Five minutes later in the 11th minute, Smith scored again after receiving a nice cross from Ian Robertson.
Soon after, Aiden Orth got his chances for the Titans, but was robbed on multiple occasions. After his point-blank shot was saved by Hautamaki, Orth hit the crossbar on another possession, reacting with a bewildered look on his face. But he broke through in the 21st minute off a pass from Will Wares to make it 3-0. Just before the half came to a close, Robertson added a goal to his solid game to all but end the game at 4-0 off a pass from Charlie Licht.
The Redmen were able to use a different mindset for a much more successful second half. At halftime, Salmon challenged his team not to give up and they responded by battling until the final buzzer sounded in what was a scoreless second half.
It was a half that proved Marquette could take away something positive.
“We challenged them to play with more heart in the second half, to dig deep and not give up,” Salmon said. “That was our challenge, not to give up by four goals in this game.
“We haven’t had a lot of practices this year, and we knew it would be a challenge. It turned out to be everything we thought it would be.”
After two days of soccer over the weekend, the Redmen are 2-2.
The schedule won’t get easier as Boyne City comes to Marquette to play the Redmen at 5 pm Tuesday, although Marquette has set itself up for future success after playing a tough four games to kick off the season.
“We’re better in some spots than I thought we’d be, and we still have a lot of work in spots that I thought we needed,” Salmon said. “We just have to get back to practice on Monday and try to clean up some of this stuff.
“We got Boyne City coming in here on Tuesday, and that’ll be another good game. They’re a well-coached team and they usually give us a good battle.
“We have a lot to work on is what it comes down to.”
Travis Nelson can be reached by email at [email protected].
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