The Munising Baptist Bobcats clashed with the Grand Marais Polar Bears in an exhilarating match on Thursday, Sept. 7 that ended with a 1-0 victory for the Bobcats. It was the first prep soccer game of the year in Alger County.

The defining moment of the match came at the 37th minute when Munising Baptist forward Dylan Swift, delivered a masterful strike that found the back of the right side of the net. Swift’s goal was set up by a turnover deep in the Grand Marais zone, setting up heartbreak for the Polar Bears after keeping a clean sheet for the majority of the game.

Throughout the game, Munising Baptist displayed an impressive offensive prowess, dominating the shot count with a total of 18 attempts on goal. In the first half alone, the Bobcats managed 11 shots, with six of them on target. They continued to press in the second half, tallying another eight shots, with six on target, with most of them coming late in the half after Swift subbed in.

Grand Marais made the best of the limited time left putting up another two shots on goal and forcing two corners in the final two minutes, but could not find the back of the net in what was the closest matchup in the H-58 rivalry in over six years.

Munising Baptist’s goalkeeper, Ethan Swift, was not only a strong presence between the posts, but also a crucial factor in maintaining the clean sheet for his team. Swift made a total of eight saves during the match, including some critical stops that denied the Polar Bears any opportunity to level the score.

Grand Marais put up a valiant effort with a total of 12 shots in the game. In the first half, they managed four shots, three of which were on target, keeping Munising Baptist’s defense on their toes. The Polar Bears intensified their efforts in the second half, accumulating eight shots, with three on target, in a bid to equalize.

Grand Marais’ goalkeeper, Ethan Bell, displayed tremendous skill and composure, making a total of 16 saves in an impressive performance.