Optimistic Oilers open SVL slate, host Grand Blanc
Their numbers are good. Their team is good.
It’s just a matter of how good? On Monday evening from Horizon Park the Mt. Pleasant girls soccer program opened the Saginaw Valley League slate with a match-up against defending conference champion Grand Blanc.
The Oilers opened the 2021 spring season last week with a pair of 2-1 home wins and were interested to see how they would fare against the Bobcats Monday.
In the end Grand Blanc squeaked out a 2-1 victory via a dominating second half, yet all things considered the hosts held their own against a solid opponent. The Bobcats even their record at 1-1 with the win while the Oilers fall to 2-1.
Despite the loss, the showing bodes well going forward.
“We just want to keep competing in every match we have,” said long-time Oiler head coach John Bunting, who last led the Oilers to a district title in 2016 and a conference crown in 2013.
“There are so many uncontrollables right now, we’re just focusing on getting better every day. However that lines up against an opponent, we’ll see.”
One season ago the Oilers were champing at the bit to get the 2020 spring season going because they had a talented and deep team. When the season was cancelled before it even started because of the COVID-19 pandemic it was painful. What could have been never got a chance to be.
Which brings us up to the here and now.
As it stands the Oilers have a program-record 39 players in the program, led by six seniors.
The varsity roster consists of 20 players total, thus Bunting will be relying heavily on the youngsters too.
“Getting out to a 2-0 start is great for this team,” said Bunting. “St. Johns beat us 4-1 the last time we played them and we beat them 2-1. Program-wise that’s big.”
In Monday’s match the game went into the half tied at 1-1 before the Bobcats netted the game-winner at the 32:52 mark of the second half. Mt. Pleasant’s goal was scored by sophomore Sophia Reilly with senior Rena Angera drawing the assist.
The Bobcats dominated the second half of play as they maintained offensive control in Mt. Pleasant’s zone throughout. The Oilers opened it up a bit late, yet never could find the back of the net.
Mt. Pleasant returns to action at Mason Saturday at 11 a.m.