Shelby played a hard-nosed game Thursday against Black River, a challenging opponent with the highest Michigan Power Rating of anyone on the Tigers' schedule, but dropped a 2-0 decision.
Black River scored very quickly to start the game thanks to "an unfortunate bounce" giving a River Rat player a good look at the net on which she connected, said Tigers' coach Joe Gorton. A penalty kick later in the first half resulted in Black River's second goal.
Shelby nearly cut into the lead as time wound down in the first half, but Annabelle Stark's shot to the left post bounced away.
"Lots of near chances, but a stout defense and a few unlucky bounces kept us off the board," Gorton said of the second half, in which he felt his team had the better of play. "I'm very proud of the way our girls battled for 80 minutes after a very long week. Battles like these will be difference makers as we move towards the postseason."
