HOUGHTON, Mich. — Parkside (8-5-2, 8-2-1 GLIAC) opened its U.P. road trip with an impressive 3-1 victory over Michigan Tech (2-12-1, 2-8-1 GLIAC) on Friday night at Sherman Field. The Rangers now stay neck-and-neck with Saginaw Valley State for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming GLIAC Tournament, while the Huskies held onto eighth place as they fight for the league's final postseason spot.
After a quiet first half that saw both defenses hold firm, Parkside erupted after the break. The scoring began in the 55th minute when Emily Mikkelson's corner kick from the near-side left found senior forward Makayla Wesemann in stride. Wesemann rose above the crowd to head the ball into the upper right corner for her first goal since her freshman season, putting the Rangers ahead 1-0.
Parkside doubled the advantage just four minutes later. Kayden Schmidt slipped a precise feed into the box for Mikkelson, who controlled the ball, worked around her defender, and slid a shot from left to right into the bottom-left corner past a diving Bri Barrows. It was Mikkelson's fourth goal of the season, tying her for the team lead, and it ultimately stood as the game-winner.
Michigan Tech briefly answered in the 62nd minute when Ryley Winrich found the net off a deflection in the box, with assists from Allison Millina and Brooke Green, trimming the deficit to 2-1. But Parkside quickly regained command of the match and closed the door with a highlight-reel finish.
In the 75th minute, Ava Rizzitano broke up a Tech clearance with a header, dribbled through two defenders, and delivered a sharp strike into the bottom-left corner to restore the two-goal margin. The goal also marked her fourth of the season, tying Mikkelson and Lindsay Dahlinger for the team lead and sealing a strong team performance on both ends.
The Rangers outshot the Huskies 21-8 overall and 15-2 on goal, controlling possession for most of the second half and holding a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Mikkelson and Rizzitano each recorded four total shots, while Kate Brown and Schmidt added three apiece. In goal, Tristen Cross needed just one save to earn the win, backed by a defense that conceded few dangerous chances.
Parkside continues its road trip on Sunday, traveling to Marquette to face Northern Michigan at 11 a.m. CT. To continue following the Rangers, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
