Slow start dooms Wildcats in
2-0 setback to Northville

  The National Anthem prior to Wednesday night's Plymouth-Northville boys soccer game was delayed momentarily due to technical difficulties.
  The same couldn't be said for the Mustangs' attack.
  Northville scored two goals within the first 10 minutes of play then staved off a relentless Plymouth second-half comeback effort to earn a 2-0 triumph.
  The loss dropped the Wildcats to 2-4.
  Lightning-quick Northville forward Doug Beason staked his team to 1-0 lead 3:46 into the contest when he slid a shot from the right wing into the lower-left corner of the net past sprawling Wildcat net-keeper Kyle Brindza.
  The Mustangs doubled their advantage six minutes later on one of the most bizarre goals you'll ever see. During an attempt to clear the ball from near the goal line, the ball struck the back of retreating Northville forward Joey Zywoil then blooped back and into the net.
  The Wildcats threatened to break the scoring ice on several occasions in the second half, but they couldn't quite finish against Northville goalie Nick Shaya.
  "On their first goal, the kid just got behind our defense and made a great play," said Plymouth coach Jeff Neschich. "He has a lot of speed. That put us behind the eight ball, then we gave up the fluky goal.
  "After we gave up the second goal, I thought we started to play some good soccer. We totally out-chanced them in the second half."
  Plymouth's Nick Russ nearly sliced the Wildcats' deficit in half with 21:50 left in the first half when he weaved through Northville defenders like a Porsche through traffic cones. However, his rocket shot from 10 yards out was deflected out of harm's way by a quick-acting Mustang defender.
  Seventeen minutes later, Vinh Nguyen lasered a left-footed shot from the left wing that Shaya deflected over the cross-bar.
  With 17:01 left in the contest, Plymouth's Dan Jasewicz broke free in front of the net -- and with Shaya out of position -- slid a pass toward the lower-left corner of the goal. However, Northville defender Bobby Kruse re-directed the ball out of bounds inches before it crossed the goal line.
   Brindza made a pair of spectacular saves on point-blank-range shots with just under six minutes to play. He then nearly scored on a direct kick from mid-field at the 3:25 mark, but Shaya went high to secure the ball.
  Plymouth returns to action Tuesday when it takes on Livonia Churchill.

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