Game two was much like the first.
Who you kidding? That’s like saying losing a series to the Yankees in October is the same as losing one in May.
The second match-up ended, like the first, at 1-1 in regulation. It was also 1-1 after one overtime, but this second overtime forged a victor.
Lowell and Northview, with the O-K White league title on the line, saw the Wildcats on the strength of an Ian Mikowski goal defeat the Red Arrows 2-1.
“I thought we had our chances, but we didn’t finish when we had the opportunity. Sometimes, that’s soccer. You work hard and get opportunities, but you just have to finish.,” said Lowell boys soccer coach Rich O’Keefe
The win puts the defending league champion atop the O-K White with two games to play against East Grand Rapids and Greenville. A loss would open the door to a possible sharing of the crown with Lowell.
Lowell’s (5-2-1) two conference games will come against Greenville and Creston.
Northview, now 6-1-1 in league play, battled back from a 1-0 first-half deficit when Todd Korcal booted on past Liam Kelly to tie the score at 1-1 with a little over six minutes to play.
The goal countered a Red Arrow goal by senior Joe Sweet on an assist by Matt Kyllonen.
Thursday night’s meeting may not be the last time these two squads face-off. Both will be a part of the eight-team field at the Forest Hills Northern district.
“We still have two more regular season games left, and anything can happen in soccer, but winning tonight’s game would have given us a chance to control our own destiny,” Lowell coach Rich O’Keefe concluded. “We came up a little bit short. Northview did a good job.”