2022 Runner-up Kalamazoo Christian Follows Lead Scorer to 2023 Championship
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
June 17, 2023
EAST LANSING – Senior forward Taylor Leonard finished her high school career Saturday with 106 goals, scoring what surely were three of her most memorable at DeMartin Stadium.
Leonard, who will play next at Hope College, also had an assist as Kalamazoo Christian downed Clarkston Everest Collegiate 5-0 in the Division 4 Final. The Comets (19-6) had finished runner-up a year ago and four of the last five seasons.
“It was such an amazing feeling; we’ve been working for this all season,’’ said Leonard. “For the seniors to lose last season and having our freshman season cancelled because of COVID … we’ve gone through a lot, and to come out with the win was amazing.’’
Kalamazoo Christian came to the Finals with a rich championship history, having won Division 4 in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008 and finishing runner-up in 2017, 2018, 2019 and last season – when the Comets fell to Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 1-0.
“The first goal really put us at a high point after being shut out last season,’’ said Leonard. “We had adrenaline before the game, but that first goal shot us through the roof. We knew we couldn’t let down. At halftime Jay (Allen) told us to not let down.’’
With Leonard leading the offense, her coach had no worries.
“Every senior class is special,’’ said Allen. “In January we got all these girls together, and we went through all kinds of adversity with the weather and academic trips and things. Our offense speaks for itself starting with Taylor. Three more goals today to add to her more-than-100 goals for her career. We’re proud of her, but we’re mainly proud of her leadership. Goals are good, but you can’t teach the leadership skills that she has.’’
Everest (8-8-1) previously had finished Division 4 runner-up in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as part of a cooperative program with Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes.
This season’s playoff run would’ve been thrown out as a Hollywood script.
The Mountaineers, a scrappy bunch, were winless in the Catholic League AA. They finished the regular season losing seven of their last eight games, including 5-1 to top-ranked Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, and won just three games total before the playoffs began.
Despite working through key injuries, including to senior Caroline Cross, Everest rallied to make a playoff run, including with a 1-0 win over Liggett in the Semifinal.
“They played hard today, and we have a lot of girls who play different sports,’’ said Mountaineers coach Richard Cross. “We have some chances early but couldn’t convert. We played in a tough league, between Shrine and Liggett and those teams. That really prepares us to get to this point. I do want to give credit to Kalamazoo Christian. They scored when they needed to.
“It has been a remarkable run. Their joy and love for each other. This is such a special group. They’re easy to coach, and I’m just glad to be a part of it.’’
The Comets wasted no time getting on the board Saturday as Leonard blasted a shot just 2:12 into the game for a 1-0 lead.
Junior forward Sophia Nash scored the Comets’ second goal on an assist from Leonard with 21:37 left in the first half to make it 2-0.
Less than a minute later, sophomore defender Jordyn Bonnema – a golf and basketball all-stater – blasted in a loose ball after a corner kick to make it 3-0. Leonard tacked on her second goal 2:30 later to make it 4-0.
She added her third goal 2:38 into the second half to make it 5-0.
PHOTOS (Top) Kalamazoo Christian’s Taylor Leonard (2) controls possession Saturday with Everest Collegiate’s Natalie Cross in pursuit. (Middle) The Comets celebrate during their championship win. (Below) The Comets’ Izzy Suloff (16) and Everest’s Kathleen Thibodeau ready for play to come their way. (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Lumen Christi Shows Resolve, Ermatinger Shines in History-Making Clincher
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
June 14, 2024
EAST LANSING – Jackson Lumen Christi keeper Izzy Ermatinger stepped up to kick first as the Titans began a Division 4 championship-deciding shootout Kalamazoo Christian on Friday.
She scored, then was brilliant in net stopping all but one of the Comets’ shots to clinch the Titans’ first Finals title in this sport with a 2-1 victory at DeMartin Stadium.
Lumen won the shootout 3-1, as Paige Lefere and Paityn Petitto also buried shots in the deciding portion following 100 minutes of regulation and overtime.
“I always kick left when we are doing PKs (penalty kicks). That’s what I normally do, and I got it,” Ermatinger said.
“We’ve been practicing PKs all through the season in case something like this came up. Every day at practice we shoot PKs,” added Codi Ruge, who scored Lumen’s regulation goal. “Izzy was fantastic. She’s a great goalie and we’re going to miss her.”
Lumen Christi had played in a championship match one other time, in 2000, and finished the season 14-7 after going 2-6 and placing eighth in the Catholic High School League AA.
The Titans gave up only two goals over seven tournament games during this run. Lumen Christi endured Friday's marathon while subbing only once, making the performance even more impressive.
Kalamazoo Christian also showed its mettle after experiencing an unusual journey to the championship match. The team bus broke down just outside of Battle Creek. Family and friends had to pitch in and get the players to East Lansing. They arrived about 45 minutes before game time, with the MHSAA pushing back the start by five minutes.
The Titans struck first when Petitto sent a 40-yard pass to Ruge, who took the ball in stride and blasted a shot into the net just under four minutes into the match. It was the sophomore’s 17th goal of the season, and Petitto’s 10thassist.
“Every game in the huddle we come out and say first five (minutes), let’s score,’’ said Ruge. “That’s what we did. We wanted to get an early goal to get some momentum. It was a very good pass by (Petitto). We’ve been playing the same people most of the season, so that helped us.”
The Titans kept the offensive pressure on, keeping the ball in the Comets’ half for the first 20 minutes.
Kalamazoo Christian (18-5-2) was unable to take advantage of Lumen Christi’s lack of depth, and struggled to find offensive consistency. Still, the Comets had a great chance to tie the game late in the first half, but a shot sailed over the top of the net.
They wasted no time scoring to start the second half, as Ari Allen capitalized on a Lumen Christi miscue on a pass and scored from the left side on a Phoebe Zeyl assist to tie the score 1-1.
Both goalies – the Comets’ Elizabeth Netz, and Ermatinger – were excellent in goal, making four and seven saves, respectively.
The championship capped a run that also included Lumen Christi’s first Regional title since 2007.
“This means a lot to us,’’ Ruge said. “It has never happened before, and it’s something we’ll never forget.’’
PHOTOS (Top) Lumen Christi keeper Izzy Ermatinger makes the title-clinching save during a shootout that decided the Division 4 title Friday. (Middle) Kalamazoo Christian’s Jordyn Bonnema (11) elevates to get to the ball.