By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Two first half goals spoiled Niles' Senior Night on Tuesday as Loy Norrix came in to take a 3-1 SMAC crossover win over the Vikings in varsity soccer action.
For 13 seniors, Tuesday's game was their final regular season game on their home field.
"We replaced nine seniors from last year," Niles coach Jerry Holtgren said. "So they had some big shoes to fill, a district championship."
According to Holtgren he couldn't have hand picked a better group of seniors to coach this season.
"They have worked hard, especially these last couple of weeks, they have worked as hard as any group of seniors that I have had." Niles will have at least one more opportunity to pick up a home field victory as they host an opening district game.
The Knight's (4-7-2) scored their first goal in the 11th minute on a goal by Howard Tobochnik. Loy Norrix added their second in the 33rd minute with Wondimu Anemone hitting the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Niles (3-9) cut the lead in half as Zach Herrmann scored in the 37th minute of the first half. The goal was set up off a penalty kick taken by Colin Freas that put the ball in front of the net where Herrmann was able to get a foot on the ball and put it past Knight goalie Stephen Hunter.
Loy Norrix added a third goal in the 72nd minute off a deflection of a penalty kick. Adam Jackson gave the Knights the 3-1 lead.
The Vikings had their opportunities to pull out the win as they out shot Loy Norrix 14-13 and that is something Holtgren has said has been happening all season.
"That's been the story all year. We've played some very good teams and out shoot them but we're not finishing," Holtgren said. "I'm happy with our intensity. Tonight we came back and fought back from 2-0 down and kept the pressure on them, we just couldn't finish. I told the guys I do feel for them because it's hard to continue to lose games that you control for the majority of the game."
Zach Bloss made six saves in the game for the Vikings while Hunter had five for the Knights.
Holtgren had one more thing to say about this year's team; "Oh yea, I'm extremely proud of these guys."
Niles vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Loy Norrix…3
Niles…1
Halftime Score
Loy Norrix 2, Niles 1
First Half
LN- 11th minute- Howard Tobochnik
LN- 33rd minute- Wondimu Anemone
N- 37th minute- Zach Herrmann
Second Half
LN- 72nd minute- Adam Jackson
Shots on goal
Loy Norrix 13
Niles 14
Saves
Loy Norrix 5 (Stephen Hunter)
Niles 6 (Zach Bloss)