Ironwood shuts out Hurley

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Ironwood edged Hurley 1-0 in an evenly played rivalry soccer match Tuesday at Airport Park.

It was scoreless at the half.

“The first half was pretty evenly played,” Ironwood coach Don Cvengros said. “And Hurley’s got a pretty good team this year. We had a couple good chances in the first half. They did, too. It was pretty evenly matched.”

Hurley coach Chris Tweiten agreed.

“I thought it was a pretty evenly matched game,” he said. “The team that scored first would probably come out with the win. It didn’t go the way we wanted, but both teams played hard and were deserving of a win. It’s always fun to play Ironwood because of the spirited rivalry. In the end, we can shake hands and look forward to seeing each other next year.”

Ironwood’s Julie Ahnen scored a goal in the game’s 60th minute and the Red Devils held on for their first win of the year.

Instead of playing wide into the corners like it did in the first half, Ironwood pushed the ball through the midfield via Kelsey Meinke and Katie Erickson.

On the goal, Erickson dribbled it up and chipped it to Ahnen, who was able to speed past the defenders and go in one-on-one for the goal.

“It was a good pass and a good shot,” Cvengros said.

Tiah Pusakulich played well in the goal, he said.

“She made a couple of really nice saves,” he said. “Just kind of glad we were able to hold up for the win.”

Ironwood loses seven seniors and finishes at 1-5. They are: Aunica Bolen, Pusakulich, Ellen Hagstrom, Meinke, Gabrielle Ossanna, Darian Joleka and Lindsey Sullivan.

Hurley finished at 4-7-1.

“Thanks to my seniors Nicole Marczak, Savana Swanson, Alyssa Koivisto, Chelsea Anderson, and Sammi Ofstad, who helped us out the last few games. It’s been a thrill,” Tweiten said.