The Bulldogs came into the night with 1 conference win under their belt, and were hungry to score another victory. Sturgis came into the night with a tough 2-1 loss to South Haven to their credit, and were looking to level their conference record. The match would be closer than some expected, and would prove to be a good measuring stick for Otsego's patience, poise, and determination as a unit.

After controlling the possession in the early moments of the match, Otsego's center back combination failed to get a ball clear of the danger area and Sturgis popped in a goal on 4 minutes to set the table for a back and forth affair. Otsego would answer back 11 minutes later as a Gracie VerHage corner kick bounced around the box and was eventually finished off by the foot of Sophomore Ambre Powell for her third goal of the season. Not to be outdone, Sturgis pressed back and found their second goal at the 25 minute mark with a twisting volley that found the roof of the net from 18 yards out off the foot of an elated Sturgis reserve player. The Bulldogs went into halftime down 2-1 and frustrated with their own performance as well as the performance of the referees, feeling hard done by with a few critical calls.

As the second half began, there was a different feeling on the pitch among the Otsego players. A drive and determination to control the ball, as well as the tempo and style of the match, in an effort to find a way back into the match. Solid play in the center of the park from Senior Captains Erica Drobny and Colleen Waters, along with help from Lauren Nieboer, Cassidy Engels, and VerHage was the catalyst for the comeback. The Bulldogs controlled the center, and created a multitude of chances through the middle with Drobny, as well as in wide areas. Finally in the 67th minute the Bulldogs were awarded a direct free kick from 35 yards out just to the left of center. Gracie stepped up to the ball with one thing in mind, and buried the shot over the goalkeeper's head to level the score. 

The Bulldogs were switching play well through the back line and midfield, and were combining extremely well up the wings. Sophomore Emily Woodin, in her first Varsity action, was a gameday addition to the roster and played some very important minutes in wide areas for Otsego who were dealing with the red card suspension of McKenzie Milton. In the 71st minute Gracie VerHage cut the ball back onto her left foot outside the 18 and rapped a perfect curling shot off the far post and into the net to give her team the deciding goal. 

Otsego out-shot Sturgis 22-5, and the Sturgis goalkeeper ended the night with 10 saves to her credit. Sophomore Matti Rayman could do nothing about the 2 goals she allowed, and finished the night with 3 saves. Player of the Game honors went to Senior Erica Drobny for her dominant effort in the midfield and in the final third of the field.

Otsego will next take on Conference foe Edwardsburg at Bulldog Stadium at 6:45pm Monday.