Soccer: Detroit Domination

November 5, 2011

One team won an MHSAA title for the first time, another for the first in nearly two decades. And two more added to a significant pile of soccer championship trophies.

But the tie that binds all four of this season's Finals champions is location -- all four are suburban powers near the big city in the southeastern corner of the state.

Here's a rundown of Saturday's Finals:

Division 1

Daniel Ovesea's goal from just inside the midfield stripe gave Canton its first MHSAA Boys Soccer title since a Class A trophy in 1994, with a 1-0 win over Grand Haven.

Ovesea's boot lofted high over a group of players in front of the goal behind the Buccaneers keeper Ethan Beswick.

Canton (24-1-2) and Grand Haven (18-2-3) played to a scoreless first half and seemed headed to overtime prior to Oversea's goal.

The Chiefs got stellar play from netminder Steven Murphy, who stopped 10 shots in the victory.

Divison 2

One school was guaranteed its first MHSAA Boys Soccer crown in the Division 2 Final, as both Auburn Hills Avondale and Spring Lake were making first appearances in the championship contest.

In the end, it was Avondale hoisting the trophy following a 2-1 win over the Lakers.

Spring Lake (23-2) struck first with the only goal of the first half, a Tanner Berg tally at 35:45.

Avondale (18-5-2) got the equalizer early in the second half on Joe Davison's goal, and with just 1:53 to play, Skyler Russ nailed the clincher to give the Yellowjackets their first championship.

Spring Lake outshot Avondale, 18-11. Ben Richter got the win in goal for the Yellowjackets, while Harry Kriger stood tall in net for Spring Lake despite the loss.

Division 3

Detroit Country Day captured its MHSAA-record 13th boys soccer title with a 2-1 victory over another perennial power, Hudsonville Unity Christian.

The Yellow Jackets (20-4-1) fell behind just 5:28 into the contest, as Unity Christian's Jared Haverkamp found the net with an assist from Jake Love to put the Crusaders on top.

The lead was short-lived, however, as DCD's Dean Akeel evened things up with a marker at the 10:20 mark of the opening half.

Country Day got the game-winner from Oliver Harris 18:02 into the second half, and the defense held strong from there.

Unity Christian (24-1-1) outshot Country Day, 14-7, but it was not enough for the Crusaders to avoid their first loss of the season.

Country Day's Zachary Walker got the win in goal, while Unity's Zach Lier made six saves in the defeat.

Division 4

Allen Park Inter-City Baptist won its seventh MHSAA Boys Soccer title, and first since back-to-back efforts in 2005-06, downing Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 1-0 in overtime.

Steven Fiema scored off an Evan Kraatz pass with 1:08 to play in the second overtime.

Highlight Reel: Boys Soccer Finals

November 7, 2015

By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
 

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Mason, Grand Rapids South Christian and Burton Genesee Christian won MHSAA boys soccer championships Saturday.

Click below for MHSAA.tv highlights from all four games, plus links to watch them in full.

Division 1

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 2, Canton 0

Rangers First Goal - Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central scored once in each half in the Division 1 title game against Canton. Anthony Bowie gets the first tally with 17:25 left in the period. 

Insurance Goal By Haji - With 1:30 left to play, Forest Hills Central gets its second goal, by Mohamed Haji.

Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.

Division 2

Mason 3, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 2 (Shootout) 

VanNortwick Blast - Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern scored first in the Division 2 title game with Mason. Evan VanNortwick's blast from way out found the top of the net with 15:13 left in the first half.

Bulldogs Tie It - Early in the second half, Mason's Christian Jordan heads in a corner kick to tied the score at 1-1. 

Barrington Bangs It In - Things looked good for Forest Hills Northern when Travis Barrington headed in a cross with 2:32 left against Mason to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. 

Wild Goal Ties It Again - In a wild play in front of the net, Mason's Christian Jordan gets the goal with 38 seconds left in regulation to tie the game against Forest Hills Northern at 2-2. 

Shefkiu Finishes It - On the final kick of the shootout, Mason's Lirim Shefkiu scores to give the Bulldogs the Division 2 title. 

Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.

Division 3 


Grand Rapids South Christian 1, Williamston 0 (Shootout)

Selvius Stops - The big save in the shootout for Grand Rapids South Christian came when Sailors keeper Carter Selvius stopped a shot by Austin Brown of Williamston. 

Championship Kick - In the shootout, Zach DeKock scored the winning goal for Grand Rapids South Christian.

Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here. 

Division 4

Genesee Christian 3, Kalamazoo Hackett 2 (OT)

Soldiers Score First - Cole Russell gets the game's first goal with 10:01 left in the first half for Genesee Christian.


Knoll Goal - Kalamazoo Hackett ties the game 10 minutes into the second half when Will Knoll directs the ball in off a restart.

Rose Smelling Sweet - Genesee Christian took a momentary lead with nine minutes left in regulation when Tyler Rose scored. 

Amat Knocks Down The Door - Hackett tied the game at 2-2 with 7:11 left in regulation when James Amat knocked in Max Keenan's free kick.

Oliver’s Twist For The Win - Jesse Oliver got the game winner for Genesee Christian with about a minute left in the first overtime period.

Watch the whole game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.

PHOTO: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central’s Mohamed Haji (10) had one of his team’s two goals in the Division 1 Final.