Powers Charges On After Milestone Win
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
May 25, 2018
Art Moody practices what he preaches.
His sermon often reiterates the common sports mantra of taking things one game at a time. So as he was about to finish off win No. 200 as girls soccer coach at Flint Powers Catholic last week, he saw it as it was, a regular-season victory against Flint Carman-Ainsworth.
“I didn’t have any idea,” said Moody, who earned that 200th win May 17. “I didn’t think I would (get to 200) this year. I kind of have a motto and we’ve been going by it for quite a while with the girls, and that’s to make sure they take it one game at a time, and I think that’s kind of how I went, too. We make sure to look at one game, and when the next games comes, if we learn from the game we just had, we can bring it to the next game and we’re going to be successful.”
Success has been a common theme during Moody’s 11-year run at Powers, as he’s compiled a 201-41-20 record in his 11 seasons, which includes a 16-1-3 mark this season for the reigning MHSAA Division 3 champions. The Chargers have won a pair of state titles under Moody (2011 and 2017) and have advanced to five Division 3 Finals.
“When we looked at this year coming up, the question everyone had on their mind was, ‘Can you repeat?’” Moody said. “We had the same thing happen when we won the state championship in 2011 and we came back in 2012 ranked No. 1. It’s kind of funny, because at that time, I got my 100th win, so it’s kind of ironic and history is almost repeating itself with my 200th win following a state championship year. We have little goals, and getting an amount of wins isn’t something I look at as a personal goal. It’s more of a team goal. So it was a surprise, but a good surprise.”
Moody is a New Jersey native who played collegiately at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He coached at Lapeer West High School before taking over the Saginaw Valley State University men’s program in 2006. He’s also coached the Powers boys, and at the club level.
“Definitely my highlight is with my girls at Powers,” he said.
Powers has averaged 18 wins per season since Moody took over in 2008, reaching 20 or more wins on five occasions. Never in Moody’s 11 seasons have the Chargers had a losing record.
The Chargers have won 10 District titles, eight conference titles and seven Regional titles. A run at an 11th District title begins Tuesday at home against Corunna.
Moody took over a successful program that had reached the Finals three times between 2000 and 2007, including the year prior to Moody coming on board. But he’s taken the Chargers to new heights, as the 2011 title was their first.
“(Former coach Tom Anagnost) had those girls getting very competitive, and he had that program kind of getting up there,” Moody said. “Tom definitely introduced Powers soccer into a successful program, so when I got it it was good timing, and I’ve continued his legacy.”
Assistant coach Jeff Tippett, who has been on Moody’s staff all 11 years, said Powers has played mostly attacking soccer under Moody, but that his formations and strategies can change based on personnel, which has made him so successful.
“It’s just Art’s coaching style; he’s got a great coaching style,” Tippett said. “He relies a lot on his assistants. Between myself and Mike Korhonen, he’s very inclusive of us in his gameplan and his coaching philosophy, and I think that helps a lot. Art’s just a good strategist, he can see the game really well, he can read the players really well, and he can put together a lot of things out of what he has to work with.”
Moody also has had plenty of talent to work with, as any successful high school coach would need. One former player, Ally Haran, went to Wake Forest University and was drafted by the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League this past January. She’s currently playing professionally in Iceland.
“Once in a while, we do get a couple very, very talented soccer players that can play at the next level, and it’s great to have them come out,” Moody said. “But we also get that other type, we get that great athlete who plays three sports, who plays basketball and then decides to play soccer. They’re not going to play college soccer, but we’re getting them to play at a high level and love the game. That’s more of a delight to me.”
Record-wise, this year’s team is one of Moody’s best, and while he wouldn’t flat out say it’s a team capable of repeating as Division 3 champion, he did say it’s capable of competing at a high level. The Chargers’ lone loss this season came against Grand Blanc, the No. 5 team in Division 1.
He said the team is playing with a target on its back, which is typical for Flint Powers teams in most every sport as the school’s history of athletic success is well known throughout the state. But for Moody’s soccer program, it’s become a little more pronounced, and he’s fine with that.
“They come in the first day of tryouts and that’s the first conversation we have is about expectations and how much heart and determination you have to have to get to that level,” Moody said. “Teams want us pretty bad, and they know if they can beat us, sometimes that’s a successful season for them. It’s something we’ve learned how to deal with. It’s definitely a challenge, and the girls have accepted it. It’s a double-edged sword, because that pressure is definitely something they do have to deal with. But it’s a good problem to have.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Flint Powers Catholic girls soccer coach Art Moody, far left, prepares to accept the Division 3 championship trophy last June. (Middle) Moody confers with one of his players during that title-clinching win over Freeland.
Preview: Number 1s Aim to Finish on Top
June 15, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The top-ranked teams in all four divisions have made good on those expectations as we turn to the final two days of the 2017 girls soccer season.
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in Division 1, Bloomfield Hills Marian in Division 2, Flint Powers Catholic in Division 3 and Lansing Christian in Division 4 started the playoffs as favorites two weeks ago and remain so – although all four surely are anticipating one of if not their toughest matchup of this season.
Following is this weekend’s schedule at Williamston High School:
Division 1 - Saturday - 4 p.m.
Grand Blanc vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
Division 2 - Friday - 4 p.m.
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
Division 3 - Friday - 1 p.m.
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Freeland
Division 4 - Saturday - 1 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Lansing Christian
Tickets cost $8. Radio broadcasts of all games can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All games will be streamed live online at MHSAA.TV and viewable on subscription basis.
All statistics below are through Regionals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
Division 1
GRAND BLANC
Record/rank: 22-2-4, No. 4
Coach: Greg Kehler, 19th season (299-86-57)
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West.
Championship history: Two runner-up finishes (most recent 2015).
Players to watch: Paige Webber, soph. F (23 goals, 14 assists); Faith Webber, fr. F (23 goals, nine assists); Alexandra Childers, sr. D; Chelsea Clark, sr. D.
Outlook: Grand Blanc shut out its first four postseason opponents and 15 total this spring, as defense clearly is a strength with Childers and Clark earning all-state honorable mentions last season. Sophomore Madison McKay has 12 shutouts season while giving up on average less than a goal a game. Junior Morgen Metzger is the main distributor of the offense with 21 assists entering this week, and freshman Jenna Blackburn has added 12 goals.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS CENTRAL
Record/rank: 20-0-4, No. 1
Coach: Jeremy Stacy, 10th season (171-20-10)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference White.
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2008 in Division 2), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Emma Yoder, jr. GK (0.32 goals-against average, 13 shutouts); Bailey Korhorn, jr. F (29 goals, 15 assists); Stephanie Currie, soph. F (15 goals, 18 assists); Madeline Becker, jr. M (19 goals, 11 assists); Natalie Lunt, jr. D.
Outlook: Forest Hills Central has been ranked No. 1 the entire season as it’s pursued its first Division 1 championship and after suffering its only loss in a Semifinal last spring. Korhorn made the all-state first team last season, while Becker made the second, Yoder the third and Currie and Lunt earned honorable mentions. Junior Madison Donley (16 goals, 18 assists) and sophomore Ashley Ward (14 goals) also are dangerous offensive options up top.
Division 2
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 23-0, No. 1
Coach: Barry Brodsky, 16th season (297-26-35)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jansen Eichenlaub, soph. F (27 goals, 7 assists); Claudia Schilling, jr. M (10 goals, 15 assists); Ellie Deconinck, sr. F (18 goals, 21 assists); Elaina Eckert, sr. F (7 goals, 10 assists).
Outlook: Marian long has been a state power, most recently finishing Division 2 runner-up in both 2013 and 2014 and falling in a Semifinal a year ago. The Mustangs have tied for the third-most shutouts in one season with 22 and with another Saturday would tie the MHSAA record by giving up only one goal this season. Senior Isabel Hayes has seen most of the time in net.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Record/rank: 20-0-3, No. 2
Coach: Daniel Siminski, fourth season (67-9-10)
League finish: First in O-K White.
Championship history: Two runner-up finishes (most recent 2016).
Players to watch: Natalie Belsito, sr. M/F (15 goals, 9 assists); Sophie Terzes, jr. M (4 goals, 8 assists); Emily Ashby, jr. D/M (5 goals, 12 assists), Lauren Kozal, jr. GK/F (16 goals, 7 assists).
Outlook: Forest Hills Northern also is loaded with standouts, with Ashby making the all-state first team last season, Belsito making the second and Terzes making the third. Senior keeper Amanda Young also made the first team and should be in the mix Saturday after missing the Semifinal; Kozal stepped into net and will join Michigan State’s team in two years reportedly as a keeper. Freshman midfielder/forward Addie Brown joined her with a team-leading 16 goals heading into this week.
Division 3
FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 25-1-2, No. 1
Coach: Art Moody, 10th season (184-40-17)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League.
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2011, six runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Sophie Bubnar, jr. F (15 goals, 20 assists); Rachel Rasins, soph. F (31 goals, 14 assists), Rachel Phillpotts, sr. D (13 goals, 7 assists), Sophia Dubiel, sr. F (10 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: The Chargers, last season’s runners-up, will play for the title again after downing six of the top 17 ranked teams during the postseason – No. 9 Birch Run, No. 10 Frankenmuth, No. 6 Williamston, No. 16 Lansing Catholic, No. 17 Montrose and No. 8 Macomb Lutheran North. Rasins and Phillpotts made the all-state first team last season, while Bubnar made the second and senior defender Sydney Wilhoite made the third. Dubiel and senior defender Abbey Clothier earned honorable mentions.
FREELAND
Record/rank: 22-1, No. 3
Coach: Lauren Kemerer, fourth season (82-8-4)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Central.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Jessica Piper, sr. M (13 goals, 18 assists); Mackenzie Stroebel, jr. F (40 goals, 12 assists); Michelle Herring, sr. M (26 goals, 14 assists); Autumn Kloha, soph. F (32 goals, 7 assists).
Outlook: The Falcons advanced to their first championship game by ending No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian’s pursuit of a fourth straight Division 2 title. That win had to be the highlight of many this spring, and came in Freeland’s fourth straight Semifinal appearance. Herring made the all-state first team last season, while Piper and Stroebel made the third and Kloha earned honorable mention. Junior midfielder Kayler Radaz had 12 goals and sophomore midfielder Emerson Lynch 14 assists entering this week, and junior keeper Alexa Walker has 14 shutouts.
Division 4
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 20-2-3, No. 8
Coach: Jay Allen, fourth season (73-13-7)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley.
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2008).
Players to watch: Haley Balkema, sr. F (19 goals, 10 assists); Phoebe Will, soph. F/M (11 goals); Allyson Kranstz, sr. GK (0.30 goals-against average, 19 shutouts); Kayla Beebe, soph. F (28 goals).
Outlook: Christian has won four league and District titles and made the Semifinals this week for the second time under former assistant Allen, who was part of the program for all four championship runs last decade. Kranstz and senior midfielder/forward Abbey VanDongen both made the all-state second team last season. The Comets opened the postseason by upsetting No. 2 Kalamazoo Hackett, and downed No. 16 Muskegon Catholic Central in the Semifinal.
LANSING CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 22-2-2, No. 1
Coach: Joel Vande Kopple, 11th season (172-46-13)
League finish: First in Greater Lansing Activities Conference.
Championship history: Two runner-up finishes (most recent 2015).
Players to watch: Juliana Figueriredo, sr. M (10 goals, 17 assists); Kasey Jamieson, jr. F (42 goals, 16 assists); Rilyn Ross, soph. F (19 goals, 13 assists); Kealeigh Usiak, soph. D.
Outlook: Lansing Christian finished runner-up both in 2015 and 2011 and has played in four straight Semifinals. A star-studded lineup has made the Pilgrims favorites to claim their first title – Figueriredo, Jamieson and Usiak made the all-state first team last season, while sophomore midfielders Alex Hanks and Eliza Lewis and senior defender Lydia Sprague earned honorable mentions. Lansing Christian has continued to shine even without senior defender Abby Krueger, also an all-state first-teamer last season who has missed these recent playoffs with an injury.
PHOTO: Forest Hills Northern's Natalie Belsito works to gain possession against Pontiac Notre Dame during last season's Division 2 Final. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)