Pirates remain undefeated in come-back win

HOWARD – On Monday, May 5, the Bay Port Pirates managed to maintain their undefeated win streak of the season after a nail biting fight to the last minute against the Notre Dame Academy Tritons with a final score of 3-1. 

As the whistle blew, marking the start of the game, the Tritons had possession over kickoff and fought to maintain that possession. 

With the fight to begin shooting shots early, Notre Dame Academy fired their first shot at Bay Port off of a corner kick three minutes into the game. 

As the battle of the seas continued, the Pirates began to retaliate as they managed to take two corner kicks, including strong shots seven minutes into the game. 

While the time for the half began ticking down, the Pirates managed to maintain strong possession for the next 20 minutes of the game, taking strong shots that were just clearing the crossbar.

As the teams fought for the conference victory, the Tritons made the first goal of the game, scored by Teya Bordini, Notre Dame Academy junior in the 36 minute mark of the first half.

“We really came through [with] adversity today," says Bay Port sophomore Aubrey Friendshuh. “They had an early goal from a miscommunication on our defense, we came back, found our momentum and just really brought through at the end.”

With less than two minutes remaining in the half, the Pirates took off full steam ahead towards the Tritons goal, tying the game up with a goal by Bay Port senior Morgan Fitt, ending the half 1-1.

As the second half began with Bay Port kickoff, determination set off for both teams as they were hungry to take the lead of the game.

20 minutes into the half, Bay Port managed to maintain strong possession, but the battle for the ball continued. 

Time was running out, and both teams became more determined than ever, resulting in a yellow card due to a foul by Friendshuh within the game 26 minutes into the half. 

The game continued to tighten, both teams wanting the conference victory within their second game of their conference journeys.

34 minutes into the half, with six minutes remaining of the game, Bay Port freshmen Ava Nagel nailed the ball in the goal, securing the first Bay Port lead within the game.

“I think working as a team, it pushes us through every moment together and you know you have a great community behind us cheering us on,” explains Nagel. “We make some simple mistakes that are just a simple clean up that we can make. Once we make those, we’re going to be great.” 

With the high momentum of the Bay Port, the Pirates continued to fire, managing a deflection off of the Tritons and into the goal, totaling the score to 3-1 in the last two minutes.

The game concluded with a final of 3-1, securing another win to the Pirate’s undefeated season.

“It really is a reminder that every game is going to be a battle,” says Bay Port Head Coach Brooke Mraz. “We cannot look too far ahead, in the same way that you cannot look into the rearview mirror. What’s happened to this point has passed, and each day brings a new game and a new opportunity…We need to maintain focus, stay grounded, stay humble, and stay hungry and just keep our focus on what we can control and that focus on continuing to get better, because we can’t be satisfied, we can't get complacent, we need to really continue to get better, there is room for growth.”

The Pirates will continue their conference fight as they face off home against Green Bay Southwest this Thursday, May 8, while the Tritons play away this Thursday against Green Bay Preble.

"We’ve got a good team, we just gotta keep pushing one by one,” said Friendshuh. “We have Southwest Thursday…we’re just gonna bring through, gotta find our top game, and use it.”

“One game at a time,” explained Coach Mraz. “Play our game, play our possession game, just staying composed knowing it is going to be a physical game, and really staying consistent…One play at a time, one game at a time. That kind of has been the motto for the entire season.”