Clawson Soccer Wins Physical Game 2-0 Over Roseville

CLAWSON – The varsity boys soccer team isn’t easily intimidated.

Roseville made the game between the two Macomb Area Conference Gold squads a physical one on Wednesday night. The Trojans shrugged off the aggressive play, shutting out the Panthers 2-0.

“It was a physical game, Roseville is always a tough game,” Clawson head coach Jared Kullman said. “We like to play a physical; they like to play physical. It is what you saw out there.” 

In the second half, the referees awarded the Trojans (4-0-1) more than a half dozen free kicks. Roseville defenders kept initiating contact and there was more than a little pushing and jersey grabbing going on. 

The Panthers Jeffery Kastner picked up a yellow card 10 minutes in the half when he knocked a Clawson player down at midfield without going for the ball.

And as Roseville grew more and more frustrated, nothing seemed to faze Clawson players.

“They keep their cool, they play calm,” Kullman said. “They’ve had enough success over the last couple of years here to understand that (losing their composure) doesn’t get you anywhere. It takes away from your success, it doesn’t make you a better player and on top of that it makes you look bad.”

It helped that the Trojans had a 2-0 in the second half. Senior forward Tyler Lehman helped the Trojans pick up an early lead with an unassisted goal at the 27:37 mark. He was able to split two defenders in front of the goal area and kick the ball past a diving Roseville goaltender inside the left post. 

Clawson added a second goal with 12 minutes left in the first half.

Will Pasquin starting at center for Tyler Jugon, who sat out the game, set up junior midfielder Jeremy Schaldenbrand on a free kick to go up 2-0. Pasquin kicked the ball about 10 yards outside the goal area.

The ball sailed over the Panthers defenders and Schaldenbrand was able to get his body in position to knock it in.   

Kullman was happy with his offense’s execution, even though they didn’t control the ball as much in the second half.  

“We were a little shifted today with one of our top players out (Jugon),” Kullman said. “When you control the first half, it’s hard sometimes to come out in the second half with the same kind of steam. In the end, three or four quality opportunities is good, we just didn’t put them in.”

The Trojans will get right back on the field Thursday. They play St. Clair, another Gold division opponent, at home at 6 p.m. Kullman said Clawson struggled a little against the Saints last season and expects another a challenging game.