News Photo by Emily VanHorn Wildcat teammates celebrate on Thursday after Lucas Thomson scored a goal in their win over Petoskey.

ALPENA — The Alpena Wildcats opened the Big North Conference playoffs with a 3-2 win over the Petoskey Northmen on Thursday night, controlling the tempo early and maintaining defensive discipline late to secure the victory.

Alpena established its rhythm quickly, playing with pace and strong ball movement throughout the first half. The Wildcats created several quality scoring chances by maintaining pressure on Petoskey’s back line and moving the ball efficiently through the midfield.

At the 25-minute mark, Joe LaCross put Alpena on the board with a well-placed shot that gave the Wildcats an early advantage. LaCross scored again, extending the lead to 2-0 with 17 minutes remaining in the half after capitalizing on a breakdown in Petoskey’s defense. Alpena continued to dictate the pace, and Lucas Thomson added another goal with 10:48 left before halftime to make it 3-0.

The Wildcats’ speed of play and strong first-touch passing allowed them to control possession for much of the opening half. Defensively, Alpena stayed organized and limited Petoskey’s offensive looks, clearing balls effectively and winning key tackles in the midfield.

Petoskey responded early in the second half, scoring with 31:24 left to narrow the margin. The Northmen increased their offensive intensity, forcing Alpena to tighten its defensive coverage and shift into a more compact formation. Despite several close chances, the Wildcats’ back line remained composed under pressure.

With two minutes left in regulation, Petoskey broke through again to make it 3-2. Alpena held firm in the final stretch, keeping shape and preventing any last-second equalizer.

The match was played at a quick pace, with both teams competing hard for possession and second-chance balls. Alpena’s defensive communication and transition play were key factors in holding off Petoskey’s late push.

The win advances Alpena in the BNC playoffs, marking a strong start to their postseason with solid execution on both sides of the ball.

The Wildcats travel to Marquette on Tuesday for a 4:30 p.m. contest.