BIRMINGHAM >> Host Birmingham Groves used a late set piece to defeat Novi 2-1 Friday evening.

Groves got the game winner with 10:27 to play in the game when senior Mikayla Benavides took a free kick from the left edge of the penalty area and bent it into the top right corner to make it 2-1 Groves.

Overall, Novi had the better of possession. Led by the play of Talie Burns, the Wildcats controlled the ball well and consistently probed the Falcon defense. But they struggled to generate high quality chances against an organized Groves defense led by seniors Lilia Chung and Delphine McLaughlin.

“It was a tough battle. They’re a good team. They’re organized. They gave us trouble in the attacking third, but I thought we defended really, really well today,” Groves head coach Reed Losee said. “We made some corrections from mistakes we made in past games and used that experience.”

And when the Wildcats were able to create chances, they often misfired, hitting the post or putting the ball wide.

“Same story just a different night, we out possessed them. We out shot them, and we just couldn’t find the back of the net, didn’t get a couple breaks in the game,” Novi head coach Todd Pheiffer said. “That’s kind of just been our story all season is not getting that goal when we need it and not giving up that late goal that has kind of cost us a bunch of games this season,” he added.

Groves, on the other hand, created their chances in transition. Spearheaded by the play of Camryn Pepper and Benavides, the Falcons were able to make up for their lack of possession by doing more with the ball when they did get it. Pepper in particular was often starting the counterattacks by reading plays and picking off passes in midfield, which were then quickly pushed up to the forwards in transition, and Groves would be racing forward in attack.

Groves opened the scoring with 23:18 to play in the first half when Benavides banged in a loose ball that had been deflecting and bouncing around in front of the Novi net.

Novi would tie the game just 3:06 before halftime, ironically, on a transition attack when Lindsay Dahlinger fired in a cross from the left side that found Maya Smith on the back post for a quick one timer.

With the win, Groves improves to 4-3 ahead of Tuesday’s Oakland Activities Association White Division game against Royal Oak.

“Two wins in a row, the girls look good. Their spirits are up. Fitness is good this week, and we have a tough home game, a league game against Royal Oak, and we’re looking forward to getting three more points in the league, hopefully,” Losee said. “I’m really proud of the girls. That was just a hard fought win. Friday nights are sometimes tough, and the group came together tonight.”

Novi falls to 1-5 in the early season as the Wildcats continue to search for a winning formula with their young team.

“We’re still relatively young as far as experience on the field. I have some good core players back,” Pheiffer said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 18-0 or 0-18. We all get to make the state tournament, and hopefully we’re learning as move forward. Our goal is always to be playing the best soccer come May. So if we learn from this, as frustrating as it is to lose again a game like that, if it’s going to make us a better team long term I’ll take the loss today to get the win at the end of May.”

Novi will also be back in action on Tuesday when they face rival Northville in a Kensington Lakes Athletic Association contest.