BIG RAPIDS — It was a long day of soccer for Big Rapids’ girls team at Cardinal Stadium on Saturday, as it finished with two 2-0 wins and a shootout loss during the Big Rapids Invitational.
Big Rapids opened with a 2-0 win over Cadillac. Maddie Vallade scored in the first half, and Nalaya Fricke added a goal in the second half.
Goalkeeper Olivia Godfrey made five saves, and Big Rapids held a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal.
“The girls did a great job possessing and passing, moving to the ball, and creating many opportunities to score,” Big Rapids coach Curt Ray said. “Our defense also did a great job shutting down any scoring opportunities that Cadillac tried to create.”
In the game against Heritage, Big Rapids played to a 0-0 tie in regulation before falling 3-2 in a shootout. Vallade and Fricke scored in the shootout.
Godfrey had six saves for the Cardinals, who were outshot 9-5.
“Saginaw Heritage is a Division 1 school with double the enrollment of Big Rapids,” Ray said. “Tired and with a short bench, the girls took them into a shootout, which we lost.”
Big Rapids closed the day with a 2-0 win over Greenville.
The Cardinals had an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal. Nuray Fricke and Madison Vennix scored, and Godfrey made two saves.
“Most of the girls did not get a break the whole day but continued to fight hard to give us a 2-0 victory,” Ray said. “These girls are physically and mentally tough. Sometimes I wonder how they continue to play against tough teams without any breaks, but they do. Hats off to all of them. Olivia Godfrey was in the net all day long and made some great saves. The only goals given up were in the shootout.”
Big Rapids returns home Monday, April 27, against Newaygo.