Traverse City struck first with a goal from Avery Plumber at the 27:49 mark of the first half. But the Wildcats didn’t back down. Just over a minute later, Alpena captain Faith Dragiewicz responded with an unassisted goal at 26:34 to even the score at 1-1.

The match remained tight through the first half, with both teams battling for possession and momentum. In the second half, Plumber found the net again, putting the Titans ahead 2-1, a lead they held onto for the rest of the match despite Alpena’s continued pressure.

“I think it really reflects how the girls don’t give up,” said Dragiewicz after the game. “We’ve improved so much since the last time we played that team, and the score showed it.”

The Wildcats made several tactical adjustments in preparation for the Titans, implementing a new system that focused on limiting counterattacks and stopping through balls.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena’s Anna Skiba runs during a soccer game on Tuesday. AHS plays Traverse City Central tonight in Alpena.

“We just kept up what we were doing,” said Dragiewicz. “It was just some small tweaks to help stop their counterattacks, and our defense and midfield did an amazing job stopping them.”

Despite the narrow loss, the team walked away proud of their performance.

“It felt really great,” Dragiewicz added. “The girls worked so hard on defense the whole game. It was amazing to see how a goal can shift the momentum.”

With their heads held high and a renewed sense of confidence, the Wildcats look ahead to the rest of their season with optimism and determination.

Alpena plays Traverse City Central at 5 p.m. tonight at home.