BIRCH RUN — The Kingsford girls varsity soccer team took a rare trip downstate to play in a four-team tournament at Birch Run High School on Saturday, with the Flivvers winning two of their three matches to earn second place.

Though the Flivvers went into the event without Maria Fornetti and Lexie and Libby Vross, they defeated the host Panthers 1-0 and then finished the day with a 3-0 victory over Elkton Pigeon Bay Port.

“This was a fun tournament,” said Kingsford assistant coach John Bittinger, who took over the reins from head coach Jon Lorenzoni for the day. “We were able to give a considerable amount of playing time to our freshman, (and) they gained valuable experience.

“It has been a number of years since we have traveled for a tournament and it was definitely worth going. Most importantly, we are all returning healthy after 180 minutes of soccer in one day,” he added.

Kingsford (5-1-1) opened the day against Cadillac and fell 2-0, the Flivvers’ first defeat of the season. Bittinger said his team played much of the game in its own half of the field, but its defense frustrated Cadillac.

“We knew going into these games we would struggle offensively and be able to hold possession on the attacking side of the field,” Bittinger said. “Exhaustion got the best of us trying to constantly defend.”

Still, Bittinger said the group was happy with the result given that Cadillac went on to win the tournament with 8-0 ad 7-0 victories.

“The opposing coaches were really impressed with our backline, commenting that they played a great game back there,” Bittinger said.

In the second game, senior Brooke Bittinger found Erika Malone behind the Birth Run (5-9) defense on a free kick and Malone sent a shot into the goal for her fifth score of the campaign for the game’s lone tally.

In their final match of the event, Kingsford sophomore Mia Counter recorded her second hat track this spring to propel the Flivvers to the triumph. Counter’s goals all came on breakaways, assisted by Brooke Bittinger, senior Mila Hendrickson and freshman Audrey Veale.

The Flivvers have little time to rest as they head to Iron Mountain today, host Peshtigo on Tuesday and then travel to Three Lakes (Wis.) on Thursday.