After starting the season 2-0, the Birmingham Bulldogs had a lot of confidence riding into their next few games. Little did they know that they would lose their next eight games, which would drop their record to 2-8. But the Bulldogs have turned it around, winning their last three games, including their most previous game against the Lake Orion Dragons by a score of 11-5.
The game was crucial to turning around the mentality of the Bulldogs’ season as they approach the playoffs. The team couldn’t afford to keep on losing, and they knew they had to make a change.
“It was pretty detrimental in the sense that we haven’t had a win in a while,” junior defenseman Xavier Taylor said. “All the seniors were pretty upset that this would end up being their last year playing and we were doing pretty poor.”
The team has had to overcome some adversity to regain their winning ways, including multiple injuries and a loss of confidence after the long losing streak.
“We’ve had four major injuries this season to key players,” Birmingham head coach Jeff Martin said. “Three [injuries] to senior midfielders and one to a junior attackman.”
The injuries have paved paths for new, younger players to step up and it has given the team a bolt of energy.
Two of the players injured are each captains- senior Will Schmidt and junior J.D. Hess. Schmidt tore ligaments in his knee in is out for the season while Hess suffered a concussion and is projected to be back sometime this week after missing two games.
“If you take four talented players off any team, it will have an effect,” Martin said. “But it has also been an opportunity for our younger players to gain some experience and confidence”
Two of the younger players that have really stood out are Susalla and sophomore defenseman Matt Wilson.
“First year varsity players Adam Susalla and Matt Wilson have stepped in and played well for us,” Martin said.
The win has given Birmingham momentum as the playoffs approach in the next few weeks. Only three regular season games remain- vs. Farmington, vs. Clarkston, and vs. De La Salle.
“Every win helps build momentum towards the playoffs,” Martin said. “It’s important that we work together as a team towards a common goal.”
“Any win is important, and to get the W is one thing but we still have things to improve on,” junior midfielder James Bertrand said. “All we have to do is hit the practice field and go from there.”
