Preview: Ready for Rematches
June 13, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Two of Saturday’s MHSAA Girls Soccer Finals are rematches of 2013 title games.
That alone tells the stories behind two of this weekend’s four championship games.
Clarkston Everest College/Waterford Our Lady actually will face Grandville Calvin Christian in the Division 4 Final for the third straight season – Calvin Christian won the last two championship meetings. Richland Gull Lake will look to repeat in Division 2 against Bloomfield Hills Marian, its opponent last season and the champion in 2012.
Among the four teams playing in Division 1 or Division 3, Utica Eisenhower is seeking its first MHSAA title while the other three have some recent history at the Finals – Hudsonville Unity Christian also was a 2012 champion, while Northville and Detroit Country Day both are seeking their first titles since 2004.
Below is Saturday's schedule, followed by a look at all eight contenders:
Division 1 at Williamston - Noon
Utica Eisenhower (18-2-1) vs. Northville (22-0)
Division 2 at Williamston - 3 p.m.
Bloomfield Hills Marian (19-0-1) vs. Richland Gull Lake (23-1-1)
Division 3 at Mason - Noon
Hudsonville Unity Christian (22-1) vs. Detroit Country Day (21-3-3)
Division 4 at Mason - 3 p.m.
Clarkston Everest/WOLL (17-1-1) vs. Grandville Calvin Christian (23-1)
Tickets cost $7. All Finals will be streamed live online at MHSAA.TV, with radio broadcasts available on MHSAAnetwork.com.
All statistics below are through at least the regular season, with most through teams' Regionals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
Division 1
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 22-0, No. 1
Coach: Eric Brucker, fifth season (85-11-10)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Central and overall
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2004), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Megan Buckingham, sr. F (22 goals, 20 assists); Jamie Cheslik, sr. F (32 goals, 16 assists); Emily Maresh, jr. GK (0.16 goals-against average, .972 save %, 18 shutouts); Gabby Mencotti, sr. M (7 goals, 4 assists).
Outlook: Four teams have scored one goal apiece on Northville this season. That’s it. Maresh replaced an all-state keeper who graduated in 2013 and has shined behind a strong defensive group. The Mustangs’ tournament run has included wins over No. 6 Novi, No. 9 Saline and honorable mention Okemos, and Novi scored the only goal Northville has given up during the playoffs. Cheslik is set to play next season at Michigan State University, Buckingham at University of North Carolina, Mencotti at Grand Valley Sate University and senior midfielder Suzie Redick at University of Detroit Mercy.
UTICA EISENHOWER
Record/rank: 18-2-1, No. 4
Coach: Mehrdad Nekoogar, 10th season (156-18-19)
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2009.
Players to watch: Caitlin Carroll, sr. M (14 goals, 5 assists); Paige Duda, jr. F (16 goals, 4 assists); Isabella Palazzolo, jr. F (10 goals, 11 assists).
Outlook: Eisenhower has won five straight league titles but won its first District championship since 2011. The Eagles eliminated No. 3 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and honorable mention Grand Blanc among others during this tournament run, and beat honorable mention Okemos during the regular season – that last win as part of an 11-game shutout streak. Carroll earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
Division 2
BIRMINGHAM MARIAN
Record/rank: 19-0-1, No. 1
Coach: Barry Brodsky, 13th season (241-22-29)
League finish: Second in Detroit Catholic High School League Division 1
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Kelly Sweeney, jr. F (20 goals, 11 assists); Hannah Redoute, fr. F (13 goals, 9 assists); Jaclyn Engel, jr. M (9 goals, 12 assists).
Outlook: Marian has won three titles over the last five seasons and once again has a champion’s resume’ – including wins over No. 7 Livonia Ladywood, No. 10 Lapeer West and honorable mentions Auburn Hills Avondale and Warren Regina during the tournament. The Mustangs have give up only five goals – and only one in the postseason, to Ladywood in the Semifinal. Sweeney and senior midfielder Annika Johnson made the all-state first team in 2013.
RICHLAND GULL LAKE
Record/rank: 23-1-1, No. 2
Coach: Jeff Corstange, third season (57-7-3)
League finish: First in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2013), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Rachel Fouts, sr. M (12 goals, 13 assists); Maggie Harma, sr. GK (0.42 GAA, .940 save %, 17 shutouts); Tabitha Boze, sr. M (10 goals, 10 assists); Amanda Paveltic, jr. F (14 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: Gull Lake may have stunned some by knocking off powerful Marian in the Final a year ago, but the Blue Devils’ return is no surprise. Fouts made the all-state first team last season, while Harma made the third team and both Boze and Paveltic earned honorable mentions. Three others have at least 13 goals, including leading scorer Kirsten Taylor, a junior, with 18. Just as Marian eliminated many of the best from the Detroit area, Gull Lake did the same on the west side of the state with tournament wins over No. 4 Stevensville Lakeshore, No. 9 Haslett and honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian. The lone loss was to Division 1 No. 8 Rochester Adams.
Division 3
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/rank: 21-3-3, No. 3
Coach: Bob Bukari, 28th season (record N/A)
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2004), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jenna Staudt, jr. D; Michelle Manning, sr. F; Isabel Nino, fr. GK (Stats not submitted.).
Outlook: Country Day is annually in the Division 3 mix, but making its first championship game appearance since back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006. The Yellowjackets have eight straight shutouts, including against No. 5 Flint Powers Catholic, No. 6 Freeland and honorable mention Grosse Ile during the tournament. Manning made the all-state first team last season, and Staudt was second teamer.
HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 22-1, No. 2
Coach: Randy Heethuis, 25th season (464-86-28)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Green
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2012), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Bethany Balcer, jr. M (26 goals, 16 assists); Aubrey Schierbeek, sr. F (30 goals, 20 assists); Lauren Orr, jr. F (9 goals, 12 assists); Cassandra Besteman, jr. M (4 goals, 4 assists).
Outlook: This will be Unity Christian’s ninth championship game appearance in the last decade, and the Crusaders will be playing for their eighth MHSAA title during that time. They didn’t make it out of the Regional in 2013, but brought back six players this spring who earned all-state recognition – Schierbeek, Orr, Besteman, defenders Elly Brummel and Maddy VanDyke (three goals, five assists) and keeper Abby Veeneman (0.32 GAA, 11 shutouts). They’ve given up only one goal in the postseason, in the 5-1 District Final win over No. 4 Grand Rapids South Christian.
Division 4
GRANDVILLE CALVIN CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 24-1, No. 2
Coach: Tim TerHaar, 14th season (232-61-20)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2013 and 2012.
Players to watch: Camie Rietberg, jr. M (13 goals, 7 assists); Morgan Buursma, jr. D (8 goals, 5 assists); Sarah Klunder, sr. M (19 goals, 23 assists), Whitney Koets, (24 goals, 4 assists); Hilary Curry, jr. F (9 goals, 10 assists); Emily VanVliet, jr. F (16 goals, 15 assists).
Outlook: Calvin Christian has claimed the last two Division 4 titles and keeps winning with a proven formula – prepare during the regular season against bigger opponents, fill out a lineup with plenty of scoring options and dominate during the tournament. They’re scoring even more than a year ago, with 135 goals so far including another 17 off the bench from forward Laura Ramaker. Calvin Christian downed No. 3 Kalamazoo Christian, No. 4 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian and No. 8 Holland Black River during this tournament run, giving up its only goal of the postseason in the Quarterfinal to WMC. The lone loss was to Division 3 finalist Unity Christian.
CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE/WATERFORD OUR LADY
Record/rank: 17-1-1, No. 1
Coach: Courtney Shegos, first season (17-1-1)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic High School League Intersectional
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2010, runners-up 2013 and 2012.
Players to watch: Anna Robb, jr. F (19 goals, 7 assists), Alex Troy, fr. M (10 goals, 6 assists); Lindsay Straw, jr. M (17 goals, 18 assists); Megan Luttinen, sr. GK (0.35 GAA, 12 shutouts, .950 save %).
Outlook: Former Grand Blanc standout and Michigan State University captain Shegos took over the program this spring, and it hasn’t missed a beat led by three of its top offensive players and keeper from 2013. Robb made the all-state team last season while Straw, Troy and Luttinen earned honorable mentions. The lone loss came in the regular-season finale to Division 3 top-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, and Everest/Our Lady has given up more than one goal only twice – yielding two to Notre Dame Prep and two to Auburn Hills Oakland Christian in the District Final. Everest/Our Lady then came back to shut out No. 5 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 5-0 in the Regional Semifinal.
PHOTO: Clarkston Everest Collegiate/Waterford Our Lady’s Megan Luttinen makes a save during the 2013 MHSAA Division 4 Final. She’ll be in net again Saturday.
Northern Fueled for Another Title Drive
March 27, 2019
By Dean Holzwarth
Special for Second Half
GRAND RAPIDS – The Forest Hills Northern girls soccer team made a surprising run to another MHSAA Finals last season with a roster filled with 18 underclassmen.
A large majority are back, and it’s created similar aspirations for a program that has blossomed into a formidable state contender in Division 2.
“I like this team because they have a lot of experience,” sixth-year Huskies coach Dan Siminski said. “It’s always a new challenge every year, and this year is no different from that standpoint with the departures and you have to fill some holes and move people around.
“One of the things I like about this team is they are very versatile, so we are converting some people from old positions to new ones and trying some things out. So far, it’s looked pretty good and they are quick to pick up concepts.”
The Huskies have appeared in three consecutive Finals, but come up short each time.
In 2016, they lost in a shootout to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. The past two years, state powerhouse Bloomfield Hills Marian has spoiled their title hopes.
The season-ending losses haven’t defined their seasons, but have instilled an inner determination to keep striving toward the championship.
“We’ve come close, really close one year, but it keeps them hungry for sure,” Siminski said. “Runner-up or not, it’s not taking away from their accomplishments and I feel like everybody has been really happy with what we’ve done even though we didn’t win them all.”
Senior captain and four-year standout Carlye Fatum said the team hasn’t been discouraged by the setbacks. Instead, she and her teammates learned valuable lessons through each experience.
“Each year we’ve gotten so close, and every year we come back just as strong or even stronger and wanting to put in just as much work just to get there again,” Fatum said. “It’s tough getting there so many times and having it right there and being just short, but as a team I think we’ve handled it well and learned from it each year to improve.”
The Huskies have reached the Finals the past two years with different makeups.
In 2017, a senior-heavy squad carried the load, while last season a youthful bunch matured throughout the season en route to another lengthy postseason run.
Last year’s journey included a shootout win over Spring Lake in the Regional Final and an overtime victory against Richland Gull Lake in the Semifinal.
“It’s definitely a talented and close-knit group, and with the success these girls have had they kind of find ways to win even though it hasn’t been easy,” Siminski said. “Success tends to breed success, I guess, but all of them are very coachable and buy into team soccer and team concepts.”
Sammi Blair, another senior captain and four-year performer, is thrilled to have everyone back in the fold in pursuit of another successful campaign.
“I’m super excited about everyone coming back and how well we have started with our team chemistry because of last year,” Blair said. “That will help going into the season, and I think we want to show that we can keep this success up no matter what is thrown at us. We’ve lost players to DA (U.S. Developmental Academy), and we just want to prove that we can be just as good with players that come in and step up right away.”
One key attribute that hasn’t wavered in the Huskies’ incredible three-year span is their belief in themselves.
“One thing passed on from team to team is they are just a bunch of winners,” Siminski said. “They find a way, and you can’t teach that. It’s an intangible, and hard to put your finger on, but every time there has been a close game we just feel like it’s going to be all right, and it has been.
“You don’t know what the future will hold, but everybody believes and that’s the hardest part. They always feel like they have a good chance to win on any given day. Of course, you don’t win them all, but they always feel like they are going to win and that’s a great place to start.”
Fatum said that belief comes from trusting one’s teammates.
“We all trust each other, and we all go into it knowing we have each other’s back,” she said. “We know if we make a mistake that it’s OK, and we are strong enough to come back from it.”
Key returnees include keeper Parker Hutchinson, as well as Elyse DeSchryver, Jenna Mustapha, Sophie Renucci, Grace Sayers, Paige Myers, Kali Mochel and Alyssa Greshak. DeSchryver made the all-state third team last season and was the team’s leading scorer.
All of the girls play club soccer outside of the high school season. It’s allowed them to keep their individual skills sharp.
“We are blessed to have good clubs here, and they train from a young age,” Siminski said. “It keeps them constantly developing.”
Siminski said complacency hasn’t been a factor. His team knows to compete at the state level they have to endure the rigors of getting there.
“I haven’t seen a dip in their want to win conference and Districts or anything else,” he said. “A lot of that comes from senior leadership and captains pushing the kids and keeping them focused. I’m very excited and proud of the kids for what they’ve done so far, but we have more to come.”
Dean Holzwarth covered primarily high school sports for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years and more recently served as sports editor of the Ionia Sentinel and as a sports photojournalist for WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Forest Hills Northern’s Elyse DeSchryver (6) pushes past a defender during last season’s Division 2 Final against Bloomfield Hills Marian. (Middle) Carlye Fatum directs the offense.