Standish-Sterling goalkeeper Keith Crittenden makes one of several tough saves against Ogemaw Heights on Aug. 30
Ogemaw's Casey Smith (3) tangles with SSC's Michael Prohaska (20) during Wednesday's contest.
SSC's defense was able to fend off Casey Smith's header on a Falcon corner kick in the second half.

STANDISH-STERLING - Aug. 30, 2006 - Ogemaw Heights pretty much dominated the second half of Wednesday's North East Michigan Conference boys soccer matchup at Standish-Sterling. But by that point the Panthers had taken a 3-0 lead, which was enough to help SSC hang on for a 3-1 victory.

"That will really help our confidence," said SSC coach Jerry Sergeant of his young team, which has no returning seniors on its roster. "Especially after the Pinconning game (a 4-0 loss), when we knew we should have played better. We're learning."

It wasn't that the Falcons didn't have their chances to take over the game. The Panthers' Keith Crittenden, however, turned in what Sergeant called the best game of the junior's career.

"He's a quality keeper," said Ogemaw coach Jeff Young. "We made some tough saves. On others we helped him a bit (by shooting straight at him). If we could find a way to get the ball in the net, we'd be pretty good."

Ogemaw (1-3, 0-2 NEMC) had about 10 quality chances in the second half. The ones Crittenden didn't get a least a hand on seemed to float just wide of either post. Jackson Moore finally ended the Falcons' frustration with goal rifled in from 25 yards out with five minutes left.

The Panthers (1-1, 1-1 NEMC) scored all three of their goals in the final minutes of the first half, which was a lot more evenly played, at least in terms of possession. Ryan May, a senior transfer, dropped a floater just under the crossbar with five minutes left in the half. Kevin Schmidt knocked the ball in off a scramble in front of the net with 2:30 left in the half, then scored again from the left side with less than a minute remaining.

"I don't know where the game we played in the second half was in the first half," Young said. "In the second half, we did everything we needed to do but put the ball in the net. I hope that's not a sign of how things are going to go for us."

Something else Young hopes not to see again is another injury to starting goalkeeper Kyle Dantzer. Dantzer, who had to come out of the Falcons' opener after taking a shot to his head, this time had his lip split open by another player's knee that looked as though it would require stitches.

"I feel bad about their keeper getting hurt, and I know our player that was involved does too," Sergeant said. "It seems that no matter what, Jeff's boys and ours play well together. They're always good sports and it's fun to play them."