BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR
Twitter: @MiSoccerNetwork
PETOSKEY, Mich. – It’s no secret that in sports it’s truly hard to beat an opposing team three times in one season.
Really tough.
Petoskey learned that lesson the hard way Saturday afternoon.
Gaylord gained a measure of revenge on district host Petoskey in a Division 2 district finals clash after losing to the Norsemen twice in Big North Conference play. Petoskey defeated Gaylord on April 23 (2-1) and again on May 9 (3-1), as the Norsemen ended up finishing 6-1-3 in Big North Conference play to win the league title outright.
Not this time around.
Senior Elly Kuras made eight saves and had an additional stop in a shootout on Petoskey’s fifth shooter, as the Blue Devils posted one of the bigger upsets in the state tournament thus far with a 2-1 victory over district hosts and nine-ranked Petoskey.
Emma Gerstenberger, Petoskey’s fifth shooter, converted her penalty kick to ice the upset win in the shootout and send the Blue Devils onto the regional semifinals. Gaylord (10-6-4) will face Midland (15-1-3) in the regional opener at 6 p.m.
Tuesday at Cadillac High School.
Albion College-bound Claire Gorno, Ella Cherwinski, Lily Willbee, Makena McVannel and Gerstenberger made their penalties in succession for the Blue Devils.
Annika Gandhi scored in the 62nd minute for Petoskey (13-3-3) while Mariah Turner notched the equalizer for Gaylord in the 71st minute. Neither team could score down the stretch in regulation or during the two 10-minute overtime sessions.
Petoskey had recorded three straight shutouts leading into the district finals and recorded 12 clean sheets on the year. The Norsemen outscored their opposition this season 45-12. Sadie Corey had seven saves for Petoskey.
Gaylord, which finished in fourth place in the Big North Conference, owns a 34-27 scoring edge with six shutouts, but captured its first district title since 2021.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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