Clinton Township

Chippewa Valley soccer battles on in MAC Red

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blene Chippewa Valley senior Dalton Amez scores a goal during a game earlier this season. The Big Reds are looking for success in the MAC Red this season. Photo by Patricia O’Blene Chippewa Valley senior Dalton Amez scores a goal during a game earlier this season. The Big Reds are looking for success in the MAC Red this season.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – Nothing comes easy in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division.

As the second half of league play rolls on, Chippewa Valley’s boys soccer team has its work cut out for it.

The young squad was battling to keep up with its foes, turning in a 3-2-1 division mark and 6-6-2 overall record at press time.

“To make up for the lack of talent that we do have, we’ve got to play hard,” Chippewa coach Gerry Haggarty said. “That’s the difference-maker. We can’t come out and play soft. We’ve got to play hard. Otherwise, we’ll get beat.

“If you come out flat, they’re going to stick you.”

The coach noted that the team played a little too “timid” in a 4-1 Sept. 24 home loss to Utica Eisenhower. It was the Big Reds’ first loss in the league.

“Every time we step on the field, we’ve got to get better,” Haggarty said.

At press time, the Big Reds were in third place of the MAC Red, trailing Eisenhower (5-1-0 division, 14-1-0 overall) and Utica Stevenson (4-2-0, 9-2-1).

“Whether its practice or a game, we’ve just got to get better,” Haggarty said. “We’re a young team.”

Trailing Chippewa in the standings are Utica Ford (2-2-2 division, 5-5-4 overall), Anchor Bay (1-4-1, 8-6-1) and Utica High (1-5-0, 6-5-2).

Senior Dalton Amez said for the Big Reds to be successful, “it’s all about teamwork.”

“We lost a lot of people last year,” he said. “We’re trying to make it work, trying to get the younger kids to cooperate and do it for the seniors. They’ve got a part in it, too. They don’t want to go out with a losing record. They want to win.

“Hopefully, we just play well and go out strong at the end of the season.”

Catch the Big Reds in action next at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at home against Stevenson.

For more details from Chippewa’s Sept. 24 game against Eisenhower, and other soccer coverage from throughout the season, check out our website at www.candgnews.com/sports.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040. Follow Jon on Twitter.