The Purple Community Game is always a spectacular, and emotional event. Every two years Otsego partners with the Van Andel Institute and puts on an entire week of fundraising, events, and special memories for family and community members who have been touched by cancer. The support our community, school, and athletic teams show is awesome and makes the whole experience very special for everyone involved. This year, we got the honor of kicking off Purple Week Monday evening with a match against conference foe Three Rivers.

Otsego took control early on and never really let up. The majority of the match was played in Three Rivers' end, and Otsego held the advantage in shots, shots on frame, corner kicks, and free kicks. It took a bit for the Dawgs to find the first goal of the match, but in the 31st minute Josh Loll put on a skills clinic and finished past the diving keeper for a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs would have to be happy with a 1-0 lead going into the break as the Wildcats' Freshman goalkeeper made some very timely saves to keep the match tight.

The second half started with Otsego on the front foot, and they doubled their lead in the 45th as Ian McClellan delivered a gorgeous diagonal ball into the path of fellow Senior Jace Engels who made no mistake finishing from 7 yards out with his head. Three Rivers would cut the deficit in half just two minutes later, however, through what some might say was a very suspect penalty kick call by the referee. The majority of the second half would play out like the first... A one goal game with Otsego dominating possession and shots, and Three Rivers' keeper bailing them out with some big saves.

The Seniors put the match on ice in the 74th and 76th minutes as McClellan and Loll both found the back of the net to cap off a great evening inside Bulldog Stadium. Coleton Hutchinson added an assist on the fourth goal of the night to add to his impressive Sophomore campaign. Jayden Dentler was replaced in net by Addison Atwater with three minutes remaining after making 2 stops and only allowing the penalty kick goal. Jayden has given up 11 goals on the season to this point, and 4 of them have been via penalty kicks. 

A 4-1 victory, tribute jerseys with names that really mean something across the back, tons of pictures with loved ones, and lots of memories made. The boys fought hard all night, and made everyone in the stadium and the community very proud to be a Bulldog. 

Otsego travels to Vicksburg to take on those "other" bulldogs on Wednesday, and up to Godfrey-Lee on Thursday. Both matches are set to kick off at 6pm.