Soccer round-up: Spartans kick off season with win

IMLAY CITY — The Imlay City boys’ soccer team, the defending Blue Water Area Conference champions, kicked off its 2026 campaign with a 3-0 road win against league rival Richmond on Monday, Aug. 24. 

Juan Hernandez (set up by Giovani Barragan), Benino Barragan (assisted by Giovani Barragan) and Julian Franco (set up by Giovani Barragan) supplied Imlay City’s goals. Max Galiana got the win in net for Imlay City, registering six saves en route,

Two days later, Imlay City improved to 2-0 with a 5-0 road victory over Blue Water Area Conference rival Cros-Lex. 

Giovani Salcedo (set up by Franco), Benino Barragan (assisted by Giovani Moreno), Moreno (set by Benino Barragan), Franco (unassisted) and Benino Barragan (set up by Moreno) furnished Imlay City’s goals. Galiana was the winning Imlay City goalkeeper, finishing with six saves.

Raiders soccer team falls twice in BWAC action

ALMONT — The Almont boys’ soccer team dropped a pair of Blue Water Area Conference clashes this past week. 

Almont opened the two-match stretch with a 7-1 road loss to Armada on Monday, Aug. 24. Gabe Hibner (assisted by Killian Abitheira) accounted for the lone Almont goal. Charlie Glosser and Vinny Cattanaci shared the goalkeeping responsibilities for Almont. They contributed eight and seven saves, respectively.

Two days later, Almont was handed a 4-1 road setback by Richmond. Abitheira (via a penalty kick) supplied Almont’s goal that day. Cattanaci drew the goalkeeping assignment for Almont.  He finished with 12 saves.

— Kevin Kissane, sports editor