Evening Sun File Photo

OTSELIC – The Otselic Valley Vikings boys soccer club found themselves trailing 5-2 to opponent McGraw at the end of the first half. However, as OV head coach Jake Preston said, the Vikings didn’t “throw in the towel,” and scored three unanswered goals to start the second half, tying the Cougars 5-5.

With about 10 minutes left, McGraw’s Jackson Card broke through the midfield line and hit a 16 yard, right foot shot off the far post and in to the net to go ahead. The Cougars added an insurance goal with three minutes remaining, taking the 7-5 win over the Vikings.

“McGraw came out as the aggressor,” said Preston. “We didn’t give in, we fought back and I’m proud of the team for that.”

Lane Adams tallied the two first-half goals for OV, with both Jaxin and Braden Davis feeding passes through the defense to the Vikings’ junior who then fired the ball into the back of the net.

Adams added a third goal with a penalty kick conversion, giving him a hat trick in Otselic Valley’s season opener.

Evan Baker settled with a quick, single touch on the ball for the first goal of the second half after a perfectly timed cross from teammate Dakota Hackett met the Vikings’ freshman. Baker recorded the game-tying goal with his head after another well placed ball came from Garrett Wood’s foot on the left side of the field.