GAYLORD ― Gaylord and Traverse City West were the last remaining teams without a Big North Conference loss when Thursday, April 23, began. The Blue Devils and Titans met at Gaylord Community Field later that day, meaning the winner would have the advantage in the BNC title hunt.
Advantage Gaylord.
GHS (5-1, 4-0 BNC) scored early in the first half, giving them a 1-0 lead they would never surrender as they held on for a key conference win over the TC West (5-4, 4-1 BNC), giving the Blue Devils sole possession of first place in the conference over the reigning champions.
“Another great team performance,” Gaylord coach Chris Adams said. “The attack has been clicking just incredibly, but as I said before, no matter who you play against, you still have to be really disciplined on defense.”
Bensinger adds sixth goal in five games
Gaylord’s offense has been terrific recently, putting up three-straight 8-0 wins over Sault Ste Marie, Houghton and Alepna. Each game has come with a different leader, and sophomore Josie Bensinger has been the leader as of late, scoring five of the team’s eight goals in the latest win over Alpena.
In a game defined by defense, Bensinger provided the offense the team needed, even if it was just one goal.
Bensinger took advantage of a free kick near the goal, putting a perfect strike in the back of the net from 23 yards out to give GHS the 1-0 advantage.
“She’s a great player, but at the end of the day, we are a team,” said Adams. “She knows just as much as anyone else, if the girls like Claire (Krajniak) and Khloe (Van Oosten) and the center and midfielders aren’t supplying her, we’re never getting those shots. SO yes, her execution and her finishing has been incredible, but it’s the hard work that the team has done way before that that’s led to those opportunities.”
Fourth consecutive shutout for Augustine
Gaylord has a veteran goalkeeper in senior Madison Augustine, a player who has a lot of experience in net for the GHS varsity program. Her experience rubs off on GHS, even when not many shots are reaching her.
“She’s an incredible goalkeeper,” Adams said. “For the last couple of games, it’s been quiet, but whenever she’s been called on, she’s been great. Same again tonight.”
The win over TC West marked her fourth consecutive shutout, an undersung part of the last four victories as she’s kept a clean sheet over the past 320 minutes.
“It’s been crazy. It’s been stressful, but it’s been crazy,” Augustine said about the scoreless streak. “I honestly don’t know how to feel about it. I was on a streak last year, and I’m just hoping to continue the one I’m on.”
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord soccer defeats TC West, takes lead in Big North Conference
Reporting by Dylan Jespersen, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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