Playing in front of a home crowd, the Wildcats put on a show from start to finish, with Skiba finding the back of the net four times, securing a win for the team.

Just nine minutes into the game, Skiba set the tone with a header goal, giving Alpena an early 1-0 lead. His second goal came 28 minutes into the first half, again with a header that left Petoskey’s defense scrambling.

By the 34-minute mark, Skiba completed his hat trick, this time with an assist from fellow senior Garrett Soltysiak. Just before the halftime whistle, Skiba struck again. With two minutes left in the half, he scored his fourth goal, capitalizing on a corner kick from senior Jack Supiran, sending the Wildcats into the break with a 4-0 lead.

Petoskey attempted to fight back in the second half, with Tyce Melvin scoring their lone goal early in the half, but Alpena’s defense remained steadfast. The Wildcats’ backline held Petoskey to just one goal for the remainder of the game.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Drake Wheelock kicks the ball in Thursday night’s game against Petoskey in Alpena.

With four minutes left in the match, Supiran delivered the final blow, scoring Alpena’s fifth and final goal, ensuring the Wildcats’ 5-1 victory.

Alpena head coach Gregg Supiran praised his team’s performance and the effort of his senior leaders.

“We have been working with flighted balls for such a long time,” Coach Supiran said when asked about the early headers from Skiba. “Jack (Supiran) has such an incredible corner kick, and we don’t utilize it enough. We worked on it, and it paid off tonight.”

While Petoskey scored early in the second half, the Wildcats’ defense adjusted without needing to alter their game plan.

“The back line played a fantastic game,” Coach Supiran said. “They’re trained to be able to solve problems, and they did just that. They moved on, solved the problem, and didn’t let Petoskey have any more whiffs at goal after that.”

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Mason Burns and Keller Skiba celebrate Skiba’s third goal of the game. Skiba finished the night with four goals, helping Alpena secure a 5-1 win.

Coach Supiran was particularly pleased with his team’s chemistry, noting how it all came together on the field.

“The first half, we played well,” he said. “We knocked the ball around, found each other’s feet, and moved off the ball. That’s why we were in their half a lot. The second half, they were excited, but I think they got comfortable with the lead and let back a little bit. The final goal was just the nail in the coffin — it was stuff we work on in practice daily, so it was good to see that pay off.”

Coach Supiran was full of praise when reflecting on the senior class’s contributions.

“They’re a great group of kids,” he said. “The seniors have been a core staple for us this season. Seeing them mature as young men and soccer players has been fun. They’ve gelled the team together, and it’s been delightful to watch.”

With this win, Alpena celebrates not only a victory but also the legacy of their seniors: Garrett Soltysiak, Keller Skiba, Jack Supiran, Kaleb Werth, Jared Johnson, and Drake Wheelock.