OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Oct. 16, 2006 - At least this time, the lack of scoring by Ogemaw Heights didn't come due to an inability to finish its chances.

The Gaylord Blue Devils, faster and more athletic across the field than the Falcons, didn't allow much in terms of scoring chances at all in ending Ogemaw's season 4-0 in Monday's district tournament opener.

The Falcons managed just one shot on goal, but Ogemaw coach Jeff Young was wishing he could take back a couple of defensive mistakes that led to the Blue Devils taking a 3-0 halftime lead.

"It's been the story of our season," Young said. "We dig a hole and then we can't get out of it. We played a lot better in the second half, but if we had taken care of things defensively we could have been looking at 0-0.

On all three occasions, the Falcons left the back (non-ball) side of the goal undefended, and it cost them. The most obvious such occurrence happened on Gaylord's second goal, which came off a corner kick. The kick sailed over the top of a leaping Kyle Dantzer to the Devils' Jeremy Sorios, who was undefended and and easily chipped it in.

Casey Johnson opened the scoring midway through the first half, and MIke Stilson took a pass on the undefended side of the goal for Gaylord's 3-0 halftime lead.

The Falcons sealed up that hole in the second half, keeping the Blue Devils off the scoreboard despite Gaylord having the ball at Ogemaw's end virtually the entire time. The Blue Devils got off only five shots directly on goal in the second 40 minutes, scoring only once, with seven minutes left.

"It's not that they weren't a better team,' they were," Young said. "But without those breakdowns you can stay in position to steal one.

"Hey it's things to work on for next year."

Most of the Falcons will return next season. Ogemaw finished 7-12 overall, with a 6-6 NEMC mark good for a third-place tie with Oscoda.