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.
Streberger Steps Into Larger Leadership Role as GPN Seeks to Reign Again
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
April 26, 2024
GROSSE POINTE — Amelia Streberger is already getting a sneak preview about what her future in soccer could look like one day.
A senior standout for reigning Division 2 champion Grosse Pointe North, Streberger said she has thought about getting into coaching one day, which is good because it seems like she’s gotten a head start on that type of leadership over the past year since the Norsemen claimed what some would argue was an unexpected Finals title last June.
Last year’s head coach, Olivia Dallaire, stepped down during the offseason and a large crop of seniors graduated, leaving a good portion of the roster to be comprised by 13 incoming freshmen.
“I feel like I’ve had to step up as a leader on and off of the field,” Streberger said. “Especially since these freshmen coming in have never played (varsity) soccer before.”
But as far as finding a player to help guide younger ones and ease the program into a coaching transition, you’d be hard pressed to find a better person for the job than Streberger.
After helping North win its first Finals title, Streberger, a midfielder, was named to the all-state Dream Team. She has a future in college soccer, as Streberger signed in November to play next for Detroit Mercy.
Now, she’s back this spring to not only lead a young team that has a first-year coach in Thalu Masindi, but also try and show the state her team can be strong again after last year’s unanticipated run. North had finished fifth in the Macomb Area Conference Red during the regular season with only four wins entering the MHSAA Tournament.
Streberger admitted that even some in the Grosse Pointe community thought it was a “Cinderella” team that defied the odds, but said there was talent on the roster last year that is back for more this spring, including fellow captains Gabby Miller and Alyssa Burney.
“It was through hard work and dedication,” Streberger said of the championship. “It was not through luck or anything.”
When he was interviewing for the vacant head coaching job after Dallaire stepped down, Masindi said one part of the interview process was interacting with the team –and he quickly found Streberger is just as “soccer crazy” as he is as the two got to know one another.
As he has transitioned into the role, Masindi said Streberger has been a rock to rely on.
“She shows ownership with helping out with some of the practices,” he said. “To make sure the intensity is high and she’s demanding more of her players, and also showing the freshmen that this is what you need to do for your four years to show growth.”
While her leadership talents are obvious, Masindi said so is what she brings to the team technically.
“I know when she has the ball at her feet, she’s confident and calm,” he said. “She’s always going to be a threat. When she collects the ball, she knows she is going to be a difference.”
Streberger said she’s been playing soccer “since she could walk,” especially since she has three older siblings who played the game including older brother Jack, who played collegiately at Butler.
Amelia Streberger said there were constant battles among her siblings in the family’s basement, where they would try to score on mini-nets for hours.
“We had so many holes in the wall,” she said. “It was crazy.”
Given what she has accomplished for the North soccer community, all those holes obviously have been worth it.
Streberger still has plenty of games ahead as a player, with more than a month left of her senior season and a college career upcoming. Beyond that she envisions staying involved in the game, and this spring has provided her some valuable insight if coaching is her next soccer calling.
“I’ve definitely thought about it with my club teammates,” she said. “We’ve definitely talked about it, because it’s something we love so much. We’d love to give off what we love and teach younger kids.”
Keith Dunlap has served in Detroit-area sports media for more than two decades, including as a sportswriter at the Oakland Press from 2001-16 primarily covering high school sports but also college and professional teams. His bylines also have appeared in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Houston Chronicle and the Boston Globe. He served as the administrator for the Oakland Activities Association’s website from 2017-2020. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Grosse Pointe North's Amelia Streberger (7) works for possession during last season's Division 2 Final. (Middle) Streberger accepts her championship medal.