Moment: Owens Rings in Repeat Celebration
May 28, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Eric Solberg tied the MHSAA Final record with six goals to set up East Grand Rapids to repeat as Division 2 champion in 2018.
And Chris Owens’ bouncer into the net with 2:04 left in second overtime finished the perhaps unexpected 11-10 Pioneers’ win over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, which had doubled up EGR 14-7 earlier that spring.
The teams played to a scoreless first overtime and nearly matched it during the second during the June 9 rematch before Owens made his deciding run. He’d also scored during the second quarter.
“We had decided to settle it down, maybe get on offense, but I saw an opening and I just took a shot,” Owens said shortly after. “It’s crazy, all these people watching. It feels really good to finish it off.”
East Grand Rapids also had defeated FHC 11-9 in the 2017 Final after the Rangers took their Division 2 championship matchup 10-6 in 2016.
Click for coverage of the 2018 Final from Second Half and watch the winner below from the NFHS Network.
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