Gaylord girls soccer advances to district finals with dominant 8-0 win over Alpena
Gaylord’s 8-0 victory over Alpena on Wednesday, May 28, propels the team into the district finals, where they will face Petoskey on Saturday, May 30, in a bid to become the first team in school history to win both a league and district title in the same season.
The Gaylord girls soccer team secured their place in the district finals on Wednesday, May 28, with a decisive 8-0 victory over Alpena. The win marks the third time this season that Gaylord has defeated Alpena, advancing the Blue Devils to the district championship match scheduled for Saturday, May 30, against Petoskey.
Gaylord, currently holding a 15-2-1 record and a 10-1 standing in the Big North Conference, aims to achieve a historic milestone by becoming the first team in school history to secure both a league and district title in the same season. The team recently shared the Big North Conference title following a 4-0 victory over Petoskey on Thursday, May 21, at Click Rd.
Senior captain Emma Horsell-Sehl noted that the team embraced the mindset of "Pressure is a privilege," a quote she shared with teammates prior to the Petoskey match. This sentiment has guided the squad through subsequent high-stakes games, including the recent victory over Alpena, which Horsell-Sehl described as a "gift" that the team is able to compete in.
Alpena, with a record of 2-16-3 and 1-10 in the Big North Conference, initially held Gaylord to a tight defensive game for the first 20 minutes. However, Gaylord broke through before halftime with goals from sophomore Josie Bensinger, sophomore Khloe VanOosten, and junior Ella Cherwinski. The second half saw continued dominance, with goals from sophomore Raygen Drzewiecki, senior Callie English, and additional scores from VanOosten and Cherwinski.
Coach Chris Adams praised the team's patience and quality, noting that Alpena’s strategy of holding deep initially worked but failed once Gaylord established an early lead. The victory was Gaylord’s fifth 8-0 win of the season, contributing to an 83-14 goal differential across 18 matches. The team also improved to 9-0-1 in home matches at Gaylord Community Field, aiming to finish the season with an undefeated home record.
The upcoming district final against Petoskey represents a significant rivalry, marking the third meeting between the two teams this year. Gaylord won its first district title in 18 years by defeating Petoskey in penalty kicks in 2024, while Petoskey avenged that loss with a 1-0 victory in last season’s district title game. Horsell-Sehl acknowledged Petoskey’s strength but expressed confidence in Gaylord’s ability to continue their successful run.
