Alpena opened the scoring midway through the first half when Faith Dragiewicz found the back of the net with 18:02 remaining, giving the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. The goal energized the team, which maintained composure through several aggressive Cadillac possessions. Sophie Kindt made a key defensive stop with a penalty kill to help Alpena carry its lead into the half.

“The team’s performance tonight was outstanding,” said Alpena head coach Gregg Supiran. “Faith has become a very credible finisher. Her speed and craftiness have to be respected, and because of that, it allows for other attacking players to become dangerous also.”

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Cadillac tied the game early with a goal scored off a penalty situation. The Vikings’ pressure continued to test Alpena’s back line, but the Wildcats quickly regrouped. With 20:50 left to play, Dragiewicz responded by scoring her second goal of the match, assisted by Ezra Peterson, to regain the lead for Alpena at 2-1.

Cadillac continued to press and was rewarded again, equalizing with a second penalty goal to make it 2-2.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns The Alpena girls soccer team huddles before Tuesday’s game in Alpena. The Wildcats defeated Cadillac 4-2. Their next match is Thursday against Traverse City West.

“As a team, we defended pretty well tonight,” Supiran said. “Our back line and midfield were put under attack respectfully by Cadillac. Our girls’ tactical wit, speed, and aggressiveness helped defend against that. Our back line held up well against their attacking players, and I thought handled the pressure quite well.”

Shortly after Cadillac’s second goal, Sophie Kindt capitalized on a counter-attack and scored a pivotal goal on a penalty kill opportunity, shifting momentum back in Alpena’s favor and giving them a 3-2 lead.

With just under five minutes to go, the Wildcats put the game away when Ezra Peterson netted a goal of her own, assisted by Anna Skiba, extending the lead to 4-2.

The match featured plenty of physical play, with Cadillac receiving two yellow cards and Alpena one. While Cadillac was awarded several free-kick opportunities throughout the night, the Wildcats kept their focus and executed when it mattered most.

“As far as the officiating tonight, you know, those are things that one must move past quickly,” Supiran said. “A lot of times we feel even in life like we deserve this or that and a lot of times we don’t get what we feel we deserve. It’s really what we do after that that counts. Whether we choose to wallow in the decision or in the disappointment, or just move past it and keep trying our best, is really what defines character.”

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Anna Skiba races a Cadillac player to get to the ball in Tuesday’s game in Alpena. The Wildcats won 4-2.

Dragiewicz finished with two goals, while Kindt and Peterson each added one. Peterson and Skiba also tallied assists.

“Moving forward, I think the girls are playing well and starting to get a comfortable style of play for themselves,” Supiran added. “I think that both they and myself strive for the team to have a better understanding of the game and system we’re playing, improvement on basic skills and fitness, and better overall communication on the field.”

Alpena now looks to carry this momentum into its next matchup on Thursday against Traverse City West and again on Saturday, where they will face off against multiple teams in a tournament at 10 a.m. in Alpena.