CALEDONIA — Slow starts can often be the difference between wins and losses, and on Saturday, Caledonia boys soccer certainly felt the brunt of that against Kosciusko.

The Cavaliers, playing host to the Whippets in the first round of the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs, took some time to get things going, and unfortunately for them, Kosciusko took advantage in the 23rd minute. 

A long throw-in into the box from the Whippets found the back of the net in what might have been an own goal for the Cavs. 

Either way, it was an early 1-0 lead for Kosciusko and a deficit Caledonia needed to find its way out of.

Soccer is a game of momentum swings, and the Cavs got theirs toward the end of the first half. Logan Burges scored his first of three goals as Caledonia grabbed momentum and held it, advancing to the second round with a 4-1 victory.

“We were shaky,” Caledonia head coach Louis Alexander said. “It took us a little longer than I would have liked for us to settle in. Nerves were a big part of it. Everyone knew there was a lot on the line.”

“We definitely had a good talk at halftime as far as just relaxing. We understood how we needed to play … I’m definitely pleased with how we adjusted.”

Those adjustments started with the opening goal as Paxton Fowlkes found Burges with a through ball as he beat the keeper, who came out of the goal, giving him an open net to shoot at.

Getting that goal before half was crucial as Alexander’s halftime adjustments proved crucial in the win.

Burges was involved in all four Caledonia goals, with the lone one he didn’t score coming from a penalty he caused in the 43rd minute. A blocked shot of his inside the 18-yard box came back to him, and the ensuing play saw a Kosciusko defender slide-tackle him in the box.

Braden Walters went on to take the penalty, which he slotted in the bottom right corner.

“It’s always the hard work at practice, everyone putting in the work,” Burges said. “We had a rough week this week, but everyone came out yesterday and today. They showed up, and they showed out.”

While the Whippets found ways through Caledonia’s back line in the first half, generating numerous chances on a consistent basis, they were on the defensive for most of the second half.

The Cavaliers wasted no time getting possession of the ball and just kept pressing on Kosciusko’s half of the field, especially in the final third.

“There were some things that we noticed on film, things we wanted to exploit,” Alexander said. “We definitely wanted to hit the outside and go at those outside backs. On top of that too, not just get one dimensional; we wanted to play central at times to keep them honest and open up both wings for us, and it worked out today.”

The home atmosphere at Caledonia played a factor, with a great crowd showing up for a noon kickoff on a Saturday. 

The fans were into it the entire game, and with every goal, the Cavalier faithful gained that much more energy and excitement.

Caledonia will have to channel that excitement for the second round of the playoffs as the Cavs travel to play Region 3-4A winner Richland on Tuesday.