EGELSTON TOWNSHIP – If the Muskegon Risers women’s team can play every game like it played in the second half on Friday night, some victories may be around the corner.
But that would mean playing a full 90 minutes of quality soccer against some very good opponents, and the Risers still have some work to do to get to that point.
That showed in their 7-1 loss to Nationals FC, a strong Detroit-area squad, at Oakridge High School on Friday.
The game was the season home opener for the Risers women, and they hoped to break into the victory column in front of their fans, but fell to 0-3 on the season instead.
[1]The Nationals improved to 3-0.
“It’s year two,” said Risers Coach Deb Pekel. “Any team wants to come in and get results, but the process of that is building, and we’re still in the foundation phase. We’re still working on getting elite players to join us. It’s in the growing stages and the not-so -fun part.
“We’re still impressed by the mentality of these girls. They’re great players with good heads on their shoulders. We’re grateful they’re a part of it. The results will come. Maybe not this season like we wish, but have to look at it long-term and not get defeated by these results.”
The game was decided in the first half, when the Risers were outscored 6-1.
[2]The home squad played well in the first few minutes, outshooting the Nationals 3-2 with one shot hitting the crossbar of the goal. But then the visitors kicked in their offense and took control.
The Nationals collected first-half goals from Emily Matthews, Celia Gaynor, and two apiece from Jenna Backburn and Sierra Curtis.
Pekel said the Risers’ relative lack of size worked against them in the first half.
“We do have a smaller roster in terms of size,” she said. “So whenever the ball is crossed or played in the air, it’s a challenge for us. We have to be better at being positionally where we need to be and challenge those. I don’t think we were willing to always fight in those moments, and it resulted in some of their goals.”
[3]The second half was much more promising for the Risers, when they played the Nationals to a 1-1 deadlock.
Muskegon opened the scoring in the second half when Kennedy Bearden found the net, making the score 6-1.
Bearden played for the Division 2 national champion Grand Valley State University team last season, and was making her Risers debut.
“I just had a great ball that was played to me,” Bearden said. “I played it in and saw that nobody was coming to me, so I shot it and it went in.”
Pekel said Bearden is a talented player who will bring a lot to the Risers’ attack.
“Every time she’s touching the ball I’m saying, ‘Oh my gosh,’” the coach said. “She’s a key dynamic. She’s a key player for us, and hopefully we can continue to build around her.
“She hit the cross bar in the first two minutes (of the game). Then she created an opportunity for herself and finished in the second half. She’s a really strong player and we’re excited to have her.”
[4]Pekel said the Risers adjusted their strategy in the second half, when they played even with the Nationals.
“It was a tactical change that we should’ve done earlier, and that’s on the coaching staff,” she said. “Ultimately we’re still learning the players and their tendencies.”
The Risers will travel to Detroit to play the Michigan Jaguars next Friday.
The Risers men’s and women’s teams will both play at home at Oakridge on June 12.