TAWAS AREA - Sep. 8, 2008 - Ogemaw Heights brought its "A game" to Tawas Area on Monday, but the Braves were able to stave the Falcons off for a key 3-1 NEMC victory that lifted Tawas into sole possession of the league's top spot.

"I have to give Ogemaw credit for stepping up their game," said Tawas coach Ken Cook. "They played hard, and despite the fact we had more ball possession and controlled much of the game, they didn't make it easy on us."

The Falcons showed right off the bat they meant business as they took the opening kickoff, drove up the right side and clanged a shot off the right goalpost.

But despite a number of quality scoring chances -- many of them off corner kicks -- Tawas goalkeeper Nick Hulea and Ogemaw keeper Sean McClintic were equal to the task in the first half, which ended in a scoreless tie.

"It was easily the best game we've played all year," said Ogemaw coach Jeff Young. "We took it right at them, which is what we've been needing to do all year. We (the coaches) have been telling them what would work; today it worked pretty well. Hopefully they'll believe that it will continue working."

Tawas finally broke the ice 10 minutes into the second when D.J. Decker fed Cody Jordan in space on the left side. Jordan worked his way to the middle and slipped his shot just inside the left post for a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons' only let-up came over the next five minutes, and Tawas took advantage with a Matt Stonehouse goal just four minutes later. Aran Freel had the assist on that score.

"That's been happening to us all year," Young said. "We have that let down after a goal. But today, we did get our game back after a few minutes. In the past it might have gotten ugly."

Instead, the Falcons went back on the attack, and after Daichi Itabachi was taken down in the goal box, Derek Hughey drilled home a penalty kick to cut the lead in half with 23 minutes still to play.

"I was disappointed when we gave up the penalty kick," Cook said. "We will be working on our shot accuracy and try to develop a little finesse as well and see if we can better manage our intensity."

Tawas put the game out of reach with 3:41 left when Arvid Trapp scored off a pass from Jordan.

"We may not have won," Young said, "but I thought we showed a little moxie today, and that's a good thing.

"I thought Sean McClintic is doing some awesome things in goal," he added. "He tends to be a little hard on himself. But as good as Kyle (Dantzer) was, Sean's showed that we really haven't had any real fall-off there."

McClintic finished with 18 saves as Ogemaw fell to 2-4 (2-1 NEMC). Tawas improved to 5-1 (4-0).