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But mix in cold, rainy weather, and the adversity becomes even greater to overcome.

That's what the Forest Area girls soccer team faced last week as the Warriors got the regular season rolling.

Although the Warriors failed to win any of the three games they played, first-year head coach Eric Szymchack was pleased with their effort and never-say-die attitude.

Burt Lake, one of the acknowledged powers in the Northern Michigan Soccer League and defending league champion, scored three goals in the first half of last Monday afternoon's opener.

Forest Area's defense stiffened after that, however, and played Burt Lake even in the second half.

Unfortunately, the Warriors failed to score and wound up losing their home and season opener, 3-0 in frigid temperatures and high wind gusts.

"We played a good game, I thought," Szymchack said. "We didn't pass as well as I thought we should have.

"But, we started to come together there towards the end."

Lauren Kneer made her debut in goal for the Warriors, and settled down to play a solid game after some early jitters.

Forest Area's defense is young and still learning with a first-year sophomore, freshman and foreign exchange student starting.

Szymchack felt the trio began to come together in the second half, and actually played well all week.

"They limited the number of shots," Szymchack said. "We set out goals before the game, and we achieved most of them ... except, obviously, winning."

Clare defeated the Warriors, 5-2. The Pioneers had a little more speed than Burt Lake, especially one forward Forest Area had trouble containing.

Szymchack gave foreign exchange student Malyanda Robinson the assignment of covering the Pioneers' forward, and was pleased with her performance.

"Robinson limited the girl's touches on the ball, which really helped us out and closed down the scoring," Szymchack.

"Again, I thought Lauren Kneer did a wonderful job in goal. The defense didn't allow them (the Pioneers) a lot of quality shots.

"Two of their goals were from quite a ways out ... 30-plus yards. At this level you don't see a lot of girls shooting from that far."

Megan Birgy scored one of the Warriors' goals on an assist from Kassie Magee. Magee had the other goal, with Hillary Leach getting the assist.

"Before the game we said we wanted to possess the ball, get quality shots, score at least two goals and limit their shots," Szymchack said.

"I felt we were the better passing team, and had more control of the game."

Forest Area trailed by only 3-2 with 20 minutes left.

Clare then netted in two long shots to spread the final margin out.

"Give our girls credit. They didn't quit. They pushed all the way through the game," Szymchack said.

"As a coach, I'm proud of that. They realized that, no matter what the score is, they still have a responsibility to try to score, try to win the game."

Forest Area dropped a 4-2 decision to a young, but very fast Benzie Central team last Friday.

The Warriors had a hard time keeping up with the Huskies' pace the entire game, showing some fatigue from the long week.

Szymchack was also limited to just five reserves on the bench.

Kneer took a cleat to the back of the head early in the game and suffered a laceration that needed stitches to close.

Forest Area trailed only 1-0 at the time Kneer went down, and Szymchack went with freshman Helena Karston the rest of the way.

Magee scored both of the Warriors' goal, including one with less than a minute remaining.

Birgy and Emily Pojar were credited with the assists on Magee's goals.

"Overall, playing three games in five days the girls fought hard," Szymchack said. "None of the games had beautiful weather.

"Friday it was extremely wet and cold."

The Warriors were scheduled to play three games again this week ... at Houghton Lake on Monday, home against Roscommon on Wednesday and home against Kalkaska on Friday. Ê