Kingsford’s Ingrid Holt (12) blasts the ball between Houghton’s Sophia Blake (11) and Anna Green (14) to a waiting teammate on Monday at Commemorative Field. (Terry Raiche photo)

KINGSFORD — The sun was out and spirits were high on Monday as the Kingsford girls varsity soccer team kicked off the home portion of its 2024 campaign at Commemorative Field in front of a sizable home crowd.

Although things got interesting late, the Flivvers gave the crowd a show as they secured a 4-3 win.

“We started off really strong,” Kingsford head coach Jenette Gunville said, “and then we kind of lost our momentum in the second half. … They did great.”

The Flivvers struck first in the contest as sophomore Ingrid Holt sent a pass through the Houghton defense and onto the foot of senior Megan Bittinger. Bittinger didn’t waste any time once the ball touched her foot and a quick shot put Kingsford ahead 1-0 six minutes into the first half.

Holding a slim lead, the Flivvers kept their foot on the gas and found the back of the net again, a few minutes later. This time, Holt kept the ball herself and bent a shot inside the left post and past the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands. Kingsford led 2-0 at that point.

Kingsford senior Megan Bittinger (4) lines up a shot against Houghton on Monday at Commemorative Field. (Terry Raiche photo)

And still, the Flivvers weren’t done adding to their total.

With 23:25 left in the first half, Bittinger headed to the right corner arc. After getting set, she drilled a cross towards the net. The ball bounced off multiple Gremlins’ players, however, it ended up squirting through for a goal, pushing Kingsford’s lead to three.

“Megan Bittinger did a great job,” Gunville said. “She kept the momentum.

“She pulled back when she needed to and she kept the front line running to score goals.”

Then in the final 10 minutes of the half, Flivvers’ junior Addison Paternoster corralled a rebound and drilled a shot into the bottom right corner of the net as the lead ballooned to four.

After halftime, things took a turn for Kingsford.

“I switched some positions around,” Gunville added. “I moved some of the girls around and I learned what we started with is the strongest.”

Both teams turned up the intensity in the second half and they played nearly 30 minutes without another goal.

That’s when the Gremlins made things interesting.

Houghton senior Mallory Eddy started the rally off after she sent a free kick into the back of the net. A few minutes later, freshman Madi Green scored a goal and suddenly it was a 4-2 Flivvers’ advantage.

With the lead down to two goals, Gunville put her starting goalkeeper, Alaina Kowalski, back in.

“Alaina’s a strong goalie,” Gunville added. “The two that I subbed in in the second half, had never played goalie before, so that was their first try. And then I thought, ‘We want to win.'”

Kowalski fended off the Houghton attack until a foul from Bittinger gave the Gremlins a penalty kick.

Green took advantage of the opportunity and beat Kowalski with the penalty kick as the Kingsford lead was suddenly cut to one.

However, that was as close as the Gremlins would get and the Flivvers secured their first win of the season.

Kingsford is back in action on Thursday as it welcomes Iron Mountain to Commemorative Field at 5 p.m.