On Tuesday, Salem's soccer team had one of those nights when not much clicked.

  The Rocks were handed a 4-1 setback to visiting Novi in the KLAA Central Division opener for both teams.

  Salem slipped to 2-2-3.

  "We struggled tonight in all aspects of the game," said Salem head coach Ed McCarthy. "We struggled on the attack and in defending, and our goal-keeping wasn't as good as it needs to be against a team like Novi.

  "There wasn't a phase of the game that we played well at tonight. Give Novi credit, though. They played very well."

  After trailing 1-0 at the half, Salem rallied to deadlock the contest 15 minutes into the second stanza on a brilliant goal by senior Dan Martin.

  "It was a great individual effort on Dan's part," said McCarthy. "Normally, when someone makes a great play like that, it gives his team some momentum, but that wasn't the case tonight."

  Novi scored approximately five minutes later and didn't trail again.

  Salem returns to action Wednesday when it hosts South Lyon at 7 p.m. on the P-CEP varsity soccer field.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.