The decisive moment came 30 minutes into the first half when Keller Skiba found the back of the net, securing the night’s only goal.

Despite several opportunities for both teams, solid defensive efforts and missed chances defined the game.

Skiba’s goal came after persistent pressure from the offense, allowing the Wildcats to capitalize early.

Coach Gregg Supiran praised Skiba’s performance, stating, “He’s been doing a great job up front for us. Luckily, that was all we needed tonight to win the game.”

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Kaleb Werth takes a penalty kick in Tuesday night’s boys’ soccer game against Cadillac in Alpena. The kick was deflected by Cadillac’s goalie. Alpena still took the victory with a 1-0 lead over Cadillac.

Supiran also highlighted the contributions of players like Owen Kaiser and Jack Supiran, whose movement off the ball created openings.

It wasn’t an easy path to victory. Alpena had several quality shots on goal, but Cadillac’s goalkeeper stood tall, making critical saves throughout the match.

Skiba later had a penalty kick, but the score was redacted. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s goalie deflected Kaleb Werth’s penalty kick, adding to the missed opportunities.

Alpena’s defense was equally strong, with goalkeeper Drake Wheelock coming up clutch when needed. One of the game’s pivotal moments came when a Cadillac player fired a shot that seemed destined to level the score, but Wheelock managed a fingertip save to maintain Alpena’s lead.

Gregg Supiran acknowledged the difficulty of breaking Cadillac’s defense.

“We were dangerous… but we made the keeper look good,” he said. “He came out and made some great saves.”

Despite the offensive struggles, Gregg Supiran commended his team’s persistence in creating chances, even though they couldn’t convert more opportunities into goals.

With just four minutes and 30 seconds left in the second half, Alpena managed to hold off Cadillac’s attempts to equalize. The Wildcats’ defense remained solid, and a yellow card issued to Alpena added to the tension in the final minutes.

However, the Wildcats secured the win, maintaining their 1-0 advantage until the final whistle.

Reflecting on the victory, Gregg Supiran noted Cadillac’s strength and how they had given tough competition to other teams in the conference.

“We knew coming into the game it was going to be a tough match,” Gregg Supiran said. “It was a very back-and-forth game, but our defense held them off.”

Looking ahead, Alpena will face Traverse City West, a team ranked 11th in the state.

Gregg Supiran believes this game has prepared the team for the upcoming battle.

“Hopefully, this will prepare us mentally for Thursday’s match against West and going into our tournament on the weekend,” he said.

Alpena High School plays Traverse City West on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at home.

The Wildcats will also host a tournament on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. against multiple opponents.