Wayland’s boys’ soccer team closed out its home O-K Gold Conference season with a 1-0 loss to visiting Forest Hills Eastern Monday night.
The loss brings the Wildcats’ overall record to 3-12-1 and 2-9 in the O-K Gold. They are on the road on Wednesday for their final regular season match of the season at East Grand Rapids. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
It was senior appreciation night and the Wildcats got off to a strong start early and were pressing to score the opener. However, the Hawks’ keeper and their back line was able to hold them back and keep the score tied 0-0 until the 35th minute when the Forest Hills was able to capitalize on a fortunate bounce and find the back of the net.
The score heading into halftime was 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
“Despite their best efforts, and in huge part to the Hawks’ stellar goal keeping, the Wildcats were unable to level the score in the second half,” coach Ben Sleeman said. “They were able to maintain much of the possession and play, but remained unable to find a way to break through to score the equalizer.”
Tristen Ortiz’s late free kick was saved brilliantly, a David Ruszkowski header that was saved off the line by a Hawk defender, and Chuck Wroblewski had multiple chances turned aside in the half.
Senior keeper Jake Larsen was called on to make only three saves in the match.
