HARBOR SPRINGS - Maybe it was the realization that Elk Rapids is considered the team most likely to impede Harbor Springs' league title chances in the inaugural season of Lake Michigan Conference soccer.
Maybe it was because the Rams didn't want another practice like they endured following Monday's lackluster win over Boyne City.
Whatever the motivation, they controlled Thursday's game at Ottawa Stadium from the opening kickoff, winning the showdown between top 10 Division IV teams, 4-0.
"This was a completely different team than the one that played Boyne City," Harbor Springs coach Hagen Manker said. "This was the best we've played this season. Elk Rapids is a tough team and we get up for them. We won the head balls and were going to the ball a lot harder."
Harbor, ranked No. 5 in the coaches' association poll, improves to 7-0, 5-0 in the league. It was the first loss for the No. 8 Elks.
Senior midfielder Kalie Grambeau scored Harbor's first goal less than five minutes into the game, on an assist from Courtney McCaffrey. Ten minutes later McCaffrey, a junior forward, scored on a scorching one-timer from 20 yards out, assisted by Allie Manker - "just like I taught you," the senior midfielder joked as they jogged back to midfield.
Grambeau scored again, and Manker had an assist, with just under 16 minutes left in the first half.
"They were all good goals," Hagen Manker said. "We put the ball on the net, which is the name of the game."
At that point, Elk Rapids had no shots on goal.
"Katie Bogart and Kate Jervey were excellent on defense," Manker said. "Everyone played very good games. When Elk Rapids did get chances, Becky Boeckman took care of them."
The freshman recorded her sixth shut out.
Harbor added one more in the second half on a penalty kick by Manker after Lynne Blomberg was taken down inside the 18.
The Rams' next game is Monday, May 3, a league contest at East Jordan.
ALPENA - Sparked by three goals in the first 15 minutes and five in the first half, Petoskey downed Alpena, 6-1, Thursday in a Big North Conference girls' soccer match.
Casey Wilcox, Emily Murray, Kayla Fryczynski, Megan Preston, Katie Johnson and Kate Bryhan scored as Petoskey improved to 4-1 overall, 3-1 in the Big North.
Wilcox picked up three assists, while Murray had two, and Kendra Spencer added one for the Northmen, who go to a four-team tournament at Midland Dow on Saturday, May 1.
"We have some real good teams in the Midland tournament this weekend so we will be tested to see how we compare with some good downstate teams," Petoskey coach Scott Batchelor said.
The Northmen scored early and often in putting away the Wildcats on Thursday.
"It was important that we scored early and took them out of the game," said Batchelor, whose team returns to Big North Conference play on Tuesday, May 4, at home against Cadillac. "These are the teams we can't afford to tie or lose to to stay competitive in the conference race."
Trish Lamberti picked up the victory in goal.
"We had one breakdown in the first half, but were solid most of the game," Batchelor said, adding that Mari Bonislawski, Courtney Londo, Shelby Gibbs and Amanda Batchelor played well defensively.
"In the second half, we still created a lot of scoring chances, but they changed goalies and she really played well in keeping us to only one goal the second half," Batchelor said. "We really passed the ball well the whole game and the big advantage we had the wa that our outside strikers were able to get the ball to the end line and cross the ball.
"Emily Murray and Casey Wilcox did a great job crossing the ball for great chances."
GRAYLING - East Jordan got its first goal and its first win of the season on Thursday.
Senior Michelle Britt scored midway through the second half on an assist from Sierra Roberts.
"Michelle has been playing with a lot of determination, and it finally paid off," East Jordan coach Peter Elliott said. "Sierra is always a threat and again led the team in shots on goal."
Elliott said midfielders Maraux Rowley, Kelsey Poineau and BobAnn Fick all played well, creating chances for the Red Devils.
Goalie Amanda Arreguin picked up the first shutout of her career, turning away 15 shots.
East Jordan, 1-5, 1-4 Lake Michigan Conference, plays host to Harbor Springs in a league game Monday, May 3.
ALPENA - Petoskey scored twice in the final six minutes Thursday for a 2-1 victory over Alpena.
Taylor Swabash scored with 5 minutes, 30 seconds left off a Shasta Gibbs assist to tie it, then Lauren Brown scored on a 25-yard shot for the game-winner with 2:30 left. Courtney Gullon assisted on Brown's goal.
Annie Redder, Sara Schuil and Mackenzie Rellinger played well on defense, Petoskey coach Larry Gunderson said, while Tara Foster, Kelsey Rosinski and Betsy O'Brien played well in the midfield.
Bethany Nelson was the Petoskey goalkeeper. The Northmen, 2-2-1, play in the Midland tournament on Saturday.