By Staff
TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – It wasn't the lack of effort or their shot selection that the Michigan All-Stars at the 2008 dropped a 1-0 decision to the Indiana West All-Stars Monday evening during the opening night of action of Sport Fest 2008.
The competition on the campus of Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana showcases seniors for Michigan and Indiana area high schools.
Several golden opportunities to get the ball in the back of the net were denied by outstanding saves by Indiana West goalie Katie Beason.
"They played well, they played extremely well," Michigan All-Star coach Jo Schau (Niles) said of her teams performance. "You bring a bunch of talented girls together and you tell them one change at halftime and they go out in the second half and did that. You play for that all season long. Just the ability to be able to coach these girls and have them make those changes and see that it almost worked for us was pretty exciting. I give them all the credit in the world for fighting all the way to the end. They believe in themselves and they did a really good job."
As the Michigan offense was putting the heat on the Indiana goalie, at the defensive end of the field Debbie Larson (St. Joseph High School) made an all-star showing in goal for Michigan.
The lone goal came early in the second half after a scoreless first half. That goal was knocked in by Indiana's Ashley Lauver (LaPorte) and the assist by Ani Tosi (Culver Girls Academy) in the 46th minute. The win by the Indiana West team was their first in the five year history of the Sports Fest.
"She (Lauver) was just begging to be moved to forward after the scoreless first half," Indiana West coach Jon Alcorn (Argos) said after the win. "She has played all over for LaPorte. It was a great through ball to her, a great shot. But I think it was our goalie that saved our bacon many times tonight. Katie did a very nice job. They (Michigan) must feel like they are snake bit because she made some point blank saves."