MONTAGUE — Montague may yet get a shot at a different result against old nemesis Fremont in a couple of weeks, but Wednesday night the Wildcats had to settle for a well-fought battle and a 3-1 defeat.
The two teams are looking at a third-place tie in the West Michigan Conference standings with one league game apiece left to play, but more importantly, the bracket sets up for them to potentially meet in the district finals May 30. If that came to pass, it would be a rematch of Fremont's overtime victory in last year's district title game.
"We've obviously got to take care of our business, but hopefully we'll get another crack at these guys on the 30th and have the score go the other way for us," Montague coach Chris Aebig said.
There's reason to hope it might for the Wildcats (10-8, 6-3 WMC), who largely controlled play in the first half and generated more scoring chances than Fremont. They just weren't able to cash them in, and the Packers got two quick-strike goals within 90 seconds around the midpoint of the first half.
Montague didn't fade, though, and in fact immediately responded just 34 seconds after the second score when Adilynn Peterson fired in a rebound of a Braylyn Bultema shot to get back to within 2-1. Twice before halftime, the Wildcats hit the crossbar with shots that otherwise would have scored. Montague had a couple of good chances in the second half, one shot narrowly missing the post and another where a misfired kick kept it off the scoreboard.
Montague's Ava Pelton (13) tries to maneuver between Fremont foes Anna Norris (8) and Breven Powell during Tuesday's WMC game at Montague. The Wildcats lost the game, 3-1.
"I told them at halftime, 'The scoreboard doesn't reflect it, but you guys are controlling this game,'" Aebig said. "The word of the day for me is heart. These girls played with all heart today. They battled all the way to the end, and I couldn't keep them off the field.
"These guys have a ton of fight in them, and they don't give up. They don't quit. That's so encouraging. You can't really coach that. That's got to come from within."
Montague, Aebig said, is battling some injuries, and played with a very young lineup for much of the second half as the team tried to balance keeping players healthy with attempting to win the game. The subs were up to the task and largely played Fremont to a second-half standstill, though the Packers did add one more goal with 26:46 to go, Riley Chase's second of the night.
Montague now sets its attention on its regular-season finale against Shelby next week, to be followed by a pre-district showdown with Orchard View. Montague has already beaten the Cardinals, and a second win would send it on to a matchup with either Grant or Newaygo, both of which Montague easily defeated earlier this season as well.
Should it all work out, the 'Cats hope the third time will be the charm in a close game with the Packers.
"Fremont's a great team," Aebig said. "They're well-coached. We know we're going to get a good effort from them whenever we see them."
