Moment: Winner Adds to Heyboer Legend
May 4, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We kick off our girls soccer week of #MHSAA Moments with one of the brightest stars in MHSAA history.
Laura Heyboer graduated from Hudsonville Unity Christian in 2008 with 167 goals, and she remains tied for sixth-most over a career all-time. Certainly, the last she netted to finish her junior season was among the most memorable.
With the 2007 Division 3 Final against Flint Powers Catholic tied 2-2, Unity’s Mindy Capisciolto took possession of a short Powers goalie kick and moments later sent in a cross that Heyboer collected in front of two defenders. Heyboer then sent home the game winner 7:25 into extra time to give the Crusaders a 3-2 win, their third-straight Division 3 title and 82nd straight win.
Heyboer scored all three of her team's goals in the Final. She'd also score the overtime game-winner in the 2008 Final against Williamston.
Unity’s title streak would reach six seasons, though 2010. Its winning streak would stretch to 86 games the following season, as the team won its first four games of 2008 before tying the fifth. The Crusaders also still hold the unbeaten games streak of 98, building to 97-0-1 before suffering a defeat that spring.
Heyboer would go on to set the career scoring record at Michigan State and play professionally and for the U.S. U-23 national team. She currently coaches at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. Capisciolto played at Calvin College.
Read more about the 2007 championship game from the Grand Rapids Press and watch the winner below from the MHSAA Network.
Moment: Novi's Fenchel Finds Way
May 8, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Through the first six games and 76 more minutes of the 2018 Division 1 Girls Soccer Tournament, Grand Blanc hadn’t given up a goal.
But with the championship game rolling toward the end of regulation, Avery Fenchel capitalized on a rare opportunity.
Fenchel, then a sophomore, took advantage of a defensive miscommunication in front of the Bobcats’ net and fired the winning shot with 3:29 to play to give Novi a 1-0 advantage on the way to its sixth Division 1 championship. (That total stands at seven now after the Wildcats’ repeat in 2019).
“I was just running after it, and it just went into the back of the goal,” Fenchel said that day. “I just turned around and ran towards my team. I was so excited.”
Click for coverage from Second Half and watch the game winner below from the NFHS Network.