Traverse City Record-Eagle

Soccer

October 14, 2009

Petoskey captures BNC soccer title

Northmen edge TC West, 2-1; Central wins

FROM STAFF REPORTS

PETOSKEY -- Make that two straight Big North Conference titles for Petoskey.

The Northmen clinched the league crown Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Traverse City West.

"It's one of our goals every year," Petoskey coach Scott Batchelor said. "West had won it for a number of years, but we've done a good job the last couple of years. It's tough to win and it means a lot, because it means you can't have a bad game all season."

Petoskey (15-3-1, 8-0-1 BNC) led 1-0 after Joe Keedy scored a first-half goal off a Dom Fantozzi assist.

The Titans (12-5-1, 6-2-1 BNC) tied the game with 10 minutes to go when the Northmen put the ball in their own net while defending Marshall Cartwright's cross.

However, West would return the favor in the final two minutes when the Titans put the ball into their own net. Petoskey's Michael Swabash was credited with the goal.

The teams will wrap up conference play on Thursday as Petoskey faces Alpena and the Titans host Cadillac. A win would keep Petoskey undefeated through the league season.

"It's a pretty tough conference to go without a loss," said Batchelor, who's stepping down after the season. "TC Central and TC West were good enough to beat us, we just played a little better the days we saw them. We've had close games all year."

Meanwhile, seniors Luke Grof and Greg Merica each scored two goals and assisted on two as Traverse City Central celebrated Senior Night with a 5-0 Big North Conference win over Alpena.

Sophomore Trevor Osburn added a goal and an assist for the Trojans (13-6, 5-4). Central, which outshot Alpena 18-2, led 1-0 at the break.

Josh Lance and Briggs Chapman were in goal.

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