A Grand Charge to the Semifinals
October 29, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Grand Blanc soccer coach Greg Kehler knew what needed to happen as the regular season was drawing to an end. He just hoped it would before time ran out on his senior-dominated team.
Exactly half the Bobcats’ games this fall had been decided by a goal. They scored only 32 during the 18-game regular season. Somehow, despite that lack of offense, Grand Blanc entered the District tournament two weeks ago 10-6-2 after finishing second in its division of the competitive Kensington Lakes Activities Association.
But as the playoffs began, Kehler was still waiting to see his players show the necessary edge to turn close calls into close wins. And time was running short – 17 of the team’s 25 players are seniors, and the next loss would be their last.
“What was really so frustrating with me is I’ve been with these guys, some for three years (and) one guy is a four-year guy. And it was almost like I was talking to them and telling them I can’t do this,” Kehler said. “We can talk. We can write up things all we want, change formations, run different plays. But it’s gotta come on the field. They’ve got to find a way to do that and get everyone on board.”
The seniors came through. Their teammates followed. The Bobcats have won five tournament games and will face Utica Ford on Wednesday for the opportunity to play in an MHSAA Final for the first time since finishing runner-up in Class A in 1987.
Grand Blanc (15-6-2) gets a Second Half High 5 amid a run that has to be considered at least a little unexpected. The Bobcats might have a bevy of seniors, but graduated Mr. Soccer Zach Carroll and all-state second teamer Yamann Sahlool this spring. They didn’t add to Carroll’s string of four league titles and probably wasn’t a favorite to reach the season’s final week.
But Kehler's group has found its collective scoring touch with 18 goals during the postseason, beginning with a 7-1 win over Flushing in their District opener.
The Bobcats haven’t been able to avoid close games since – the last four have been decided either by a goal or in overtime – but Grand Blanc has come out on top in each, including 5-3 over No. 4-ranked Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in a double overtime Regional Semifinal.
That's the biggest tournament win on paper, and especially considering the Bobcats had lost to Stoney Creek 4-0 earlier this fall. In the rematch, they trailed 3-1 and only forced overtime by scoring off a corner kick with less than a minute to play in regulation.
But it was how Grand Blanc finished the game before that set the tone for its continuing success.
The Bobcats trailed Lake Orion 2-0 in the District Final, then took a 3-2 lead before the Dragons tied it up again with less than 14 minutes to play. Grand Blanc junior Nick Berklich then knocked home the game-winner with just a minute left.
“A lot of things from that game carried over to Stoney Creek,” Kehler said. “When we lost 4-0, I thought we played well. But we had mental mistakes, and we were playing a different formation than now, and after that game we changed some things. We thought we were better than a four-goal difference against them.”
Kehler, in his 14th season coaching the varsity – and with more than 400 wins combined leading both the boys and girls programs – has never had a team quite like this one. Nearly half of his seniors played junior varsity last season, and he wanted to keep them all although his teams generally go only about 20 or 21 players.
Only five seniors start, but all contribute especially in practices made more competitive by the ability to put out a second team that can run an opponent’s formation and scheme and challenge the first teamers.
Although his defense is a little on the younger side (but with two two-year juniors), the offense is paced by four-year varsity standout Chris Sullivant and three-year player Dominic Mastromatteo. The latter scored four goals last week – three against Stoney Creek and the winner against Walled Lake Central.
Those two seniors also were part of some significant close calls before this fall. Last season ended with a 1-0 loss to Walled Lake Northern in a Regional Semifinal. The 2010 team fell to Sterling Heights Stevenson in a Semifinal shootout. Before those two entered high school, Grand Blanc also lost a 2008 Semifinal in overtime to Livonia Stevenson.
And even that 1987 loss, to East Lansing, was 2-1 in overtime.
But Kehler believes all of the recent close calls are paying off. These Bobcats have found that extra when it counted, an edge they’ll try to keep for two more games.
“I knew we’d be good, but we kinda struggled early. I was kinda questioning if we had what it took,” Kehler said. “Every year with the players you have coming back, you’re optimistic. But … I’m very pleased with how we responded to this season and how it unfolded.”
PHOTO: Grand Blanc’s Ali Mukhtar (11) works to control possession against Saginaw Heritage earlier this season. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com)
Preview: Pitch to Provide No Shortage of History-Making Possibilities
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 1, 2024
Byron Center and Plymouth Christian Academy will make school history Saturday just by showing up for their first MHSAA Boys Soccer Final. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep can make some as well with a first championship victory.
Grand Ledge High School also will host the second-most successful program in this sport’s postseason history – Muskegon Western Michigan Christian will play in its 17th Final, tying Detroit Country Day for the most title game appearances.
Saturday’s first Final will be Division 4 at 10 a.m., followed by Division 3 at 12:30 p.m., Division 2 at 3:30 and Division 1 at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $11 and may be purchased online only at GoFan. All four Finals also will be broadcast and available with subscription on the NFHS Network.
Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4
Below is a glance at all eight contenders, with statistics through Regionals:
Division 1
BYRON CENTER
Record/rank: 19-4-1, unranked
Michigan Power Rating: No. 35
Coach: Chad Bays, second season (36-7-3)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Green
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Luke Philo, sr. GK; Kaleb Smith, jr. MF; Brendan Walker, sr. D (Statistics not submitted).
Outlook: Byron Center has added its first Finals run to its first Regional championship won last week. Bays also led the Bulldogs to a 17-3-2 record in his first season last fall after previously coaching the junior varsity. The team advanced in part with shootout wins over Grand Haven and No. 4 Oxford and also defeated top-ranked Portage Central during this postseason. Smith is the team’s leading scorer, and only three seniors start – so this could be just the start of a run at the top of Division 1. Philo earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
ROCHESTER ADAMS
Record/rank: 17-2-4, No. 5
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Josh Hickey, 16th season (188-94-62)
League finish: Second in Oakland Activities Association Red
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Anthony Page, sr. W (7 goals, 7 assists); Alex Rosin, sr. M (15 goals, 17 assists), Logan Lilla, sr. W (13 goals, 6 assists).
Outlook: Adams is making its second championship match appearance in three seasons and playing for the OAA Red’s third-straight title after Troy Athens won Division 1 a year ago. Any team emerging from that league will be prepared; in addition to Adams, Troy finished the regular season ranked No. 3, Oxford was No. 4, Troy Athens was No. 8 and Berkley No. 12 in Division 1. Adams defeated Troy in overtime, No. 10 Utica Eisenhower and No. 11 Saline in a shootout during this playoff run. Senior Reid Dennis has been a force in goal, giving up 0.4 goals per game with 12 shutouts heading into this week. Page earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
Division 2
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Record/rank: 19-4-3, No. 7
Michigan Power Rating: No. 19
Coach: Juan Torres, fourth season (59-18-7)
League finish: First in O-K White
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2019, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Drin Mandija, soph. F (12 goals, 6 assists); Almedin Hoxha, jr. M (14 goals, 6 assists); Beau Lincoln, jr. M (7 goals, 14 assists).
Outlook: Forest Hills Northern has done some impressive damage on the way to the season’s final weekend, among others defeating top-ranked Fruitport, No. 12 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 2023 champion Grand Rapids Christian and No. 8 Bay City John Glenn during the playoffs – the first three on the list in shootouts. Junior Lukas Darling has been in goal for all of it, with eight shutouts this season while giving up just 1.2 goals per game. The Forest Hills Central win avenged a 3-0 loss in the regular-season finale. Total, 18 players had scored at least once entering this week.
WARREN DE LA SALLE COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 19-3-1, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: Thaier Mukhtar, 36th season (594-143-97)
League finish: Second in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2005), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Andrew Corder, soph. F (16 goals, 6 assists); Daniel Makara, sr. D (9 goals, 8 assists); Joshua Ross, sr. M (13 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: The Pilots rode a 3-1 win over No. 5 Mason into their first championship match since 2005. Mukhtar is the winningest coach in MHSAA boys soccer history and has directed the program to all five of its Finals titles. He began this season with three all-state first-teamers from last year in Makara, Ross and Corder, while junior midfielder Nikolai Zacharko (6 goals/4 assists) made the third team last season and sophomore keeper Dominic Baldarotta earned an honorable mention. Baldarotta has played the majority in net this season, with a 1.21 goals-against average and eight shutouts heading into this week.
Division 3
ELK RAPIDS
Record/rank: 18-6-1, No. 10
Michigan Power Rating: No. 13
Coach: Nate Plum, 17th season (275-116-34)
League finish: Tied for first in Northern Shores Conference
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 1998), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jayden Hresko, jr. F (14 goals, 11 assists); Mason Hilley, soph. M (3 goals, 7 assists); Tyler Standfest, soph. F (16 goals, 9 assists).
Outlook: After reaching the Semifinals for the sixth time under Plum’s leadership, Elk Rapids broke through to get back to championship weekend for the first time since its last title was won in 1998. The Elks have given up just three goals over six postseason games and no more than one in any match going back to Sept. 7; they haven’t lost since Sept. 9. They defeated No. 4 Kingsford, No. 9 Hartford and No. 12 Traverse City St. Francis during this run, and junior Jacob McManus has played most in net with a 0.79 goals-against average and 10 shutouts over the course of the fall. Hresko, Hilley and junior midfielder Carter Denoyer (6 goals, 1 assist) earned all-state honorable mentions last season.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
Record/rank: 22-2, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Rob Suffredini, 10th season (111-80-35)
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2000.
Players to watch: Benjamin Liparoto, jr. M (8 goals, 4 assists); Will Lanham, sr. F (28 goals, 14 assists); Jack Kilpatrick, jr. M (12 goals, 13 assists).
Outlook: Aside from stumbles against No. 5 Detroit Country Day and Division 1 No. 3 Troy, Notre Dame Prep has put together one of the most dominating runs in the state in any division – and the Fighting Irish avenged the Country Day loss with a shootout win in the District Final. They also downed No. 2 Flint Powers Catholic and No. 13 Williamston during this postseason, the latter in their 12th shutout of the fall. Lanham made the all-state first team last year, and Kilpatrick made the third team. Four others had at least five goals scored entering this week.
Division 4
MUSKEGON WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 14-7-3, No. 8
Michigan Power Rating: No. 10
Coach: Ben Buursma, fifth season (73-32-12)
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Championship history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), seven runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Dan Minasian, sr. GK (1.04 goals-against average, 9 shutouts); Tekalegn Vlasma, sr. F (27 goals, 5 assists); Cole DeJonge, sr. M (5 goals, 24 assists).
Outlook: WMC is seeking its third-straight Division 4 title, and earning it would have to make this run one of the program’s most impressive over its highlight-filled history. The Warriors have yet to give up a goal over five postseason games against Ravenna, No. 6 North Muskegon, No. 13 Harbor Springs, No. 2 Leland and No. 5 Grandville Calvin Christian. Minasian, senior defender Ben Visser and DeJonge all made the all-state first team last season, while Vlasma made the second team and was the star of last year’s championship match with two goals in finishing 2023 with 26 total.
PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Record/rank: 15-5-3, unranked
Michigan Power Rating: No. 24
Coach: Ryan Thompson, second season (21-10-9)
League finish: Second in Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Caedmon Whipple, sr. M (23 goals, 12 assists); Mac MacDonald, sr. M (3 goals, 1 assist); Grant Ramseyer, soph. F (12 goals, 11 assists).
Outlook: Coming off a solid regular season, PCA has put together a stunning playoffs outscoring its six opponents by a combined 21-5. The two most recent victories came over No. 3 Royal Oak Shrine Catholic and No. 4 Lansing Christian and are part of a 13-0-2 streak going back to Sept. 13. Whipple made the all-state third team last season, and MacDonald earned an honorable mention, and they are two of only four seniors total. Sophomore midfielder Leo Lavigne also had scored 12 goals entering this week.
PHOTOS (Top) Pontiac Notre Dame Prep’s Edziu Lis (9) pursues the ball during a regular-season victory over Birmingham Seaholm. (Middle) Byron Center’s Kaleb Smith (10) pushes the attack during Wednesday’s Semifinal win over Oxford. (Top photo by Adam Sheehan; middle photo by John Johnson.)