Traverse City Record-Eagle

Elk Rapids Township

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    ELK RAPIDS AT LIBERTY

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    ELK RAPIDS AT LIBERTY
May 7, 2009

Elks win soccer showdown

Morrison nets two goals in win over Liberty

BY JAMES COOK

TRAVERSE CITY -- Olivia Morrison's goal-scoring streak was snapped over the weekend, so she started a new one at the right time.

Morrison scored both of Elk Rapids' goals in a 2-0 soccer victory over the Traverse City Liberty, a win that keeps the Elks in the driver's seat in the Lake Michigan Conference.

Previously, Morrison -- who now has 17 goals on the season -- had scored a goal in all but one game before last Saturday's Suttons Bay Invitational.

"I feel good about our position right now," Elks coach Andrea Krakow said. "As long as nothing unexpected happens we should be able to be at the top -- by ourselves or with Charlevoix."

Elk Rapids is the only undefeated team in the league, sitting at 8-0. Charlevoix has one loss and the Liberty three.

The Rayders and Liberty meet up next Wednesday. A Liberty win then would all but assure the Elks the title, while a Charlevoix victory would keep the Rayders in the hunt for a co-championship.

Morrison's first goal -- assisted by sophomore Molly Starr -- came in the 13th minute on a rush up the middle.

She made it 2-0 with 28 seconds left in the first half, cutting left and lofting a shot high into the opposite side of the net.

"We definitely used the width -- this is a shorter field," Morrison said. "Our defense was really keeping up, along with Maggie (Marshall). They marked extremely tight and didn't lose their man."

Senior Elin Larsen and sophomore Molly Starr each spent a half chasing down Liberty standout Helène Dryden, enabling the Elks to keep Dryden out of the score book.

"They were closing us down in the middle, so we had to go wide and try to cross it," TC coach Bill Auxier said.

"Elk Rapids was first to the ball more than we were," Auxier said. "We had opportunities early and couldn't get to the net."

The Liberty did have solid outings from forward Mary Raetz, who shifted to defense in the second half to help keep Morrison from doing any further damage, and defender Devin Forlenza.

Leah Beemer made several nice saves to keep the Liberty (8-3-1, 6-3 LMC) in the game. Marshall, a freshman, notched the shutout for the Elks.

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