SAGINAW–The Alpena High girls soccer team didn’t get the start it was hoping for.

Anna Young scored twice for the Wildcats in their season opener, but Alpena ultimately came out on the short end in a 4-2 loss to Saginaw Swan Valley.

Alpena (0-1) was on the attack offensively for much of the game, but the Vikings made the most of the handful of shots they got on goal, scoring four times.

“We totally outplayed them and we came out on the short end,” Alpena coach Tim Storch said. “We passed the ball well, but we didn’t defend well. If we can’t defend well, against a team that only had five or six shots, that’s going to spell tragedy for us down the road.”

Young gave Alpena a 1-0 lead with a goal less than three minutes into the game with an assist from Mollie Girard.

Swan Valley answered back with a goal off a corner kick, a long shot off the crossbar to take the lead and then a breakaway goal with 20 seconds left in the first half.

Swan Valley went up 4-1 with another breakaway goal early in the second half. Young answered back with her second goal of the night with an assist from Taylor Tolsdorf with 18 minutes remaining.

Alpena plays at Oscoda at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

BASEBALL

St. Mary takes 2 from Hillman

HILLMAN–The Hillman baseball team struggled on Monday, losing to Gaylord St. Mary in a doubleheader, 6-2 and 9-2.

In the opener, Kory Henigan took the loss for the Tigers. He allow three hits and six runs (one earned) while striking out seven and walking three in six innings.

At the plate, Gage Steinke was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored for Hillman, Cam Koenig was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Wyatt Barrie had a single.

In the nightcap, Nic Taratuta took the loss for Hillman, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

At the plate, Brady Firman was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI, Henigan had a single and Nash Steinke was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.