Bishop Foley heads to state championship match

By John K. Schroder

Playing in different divisions of the Detroit Catholic League was the only thing Madison Heights Bishop Foley and Marine City Cardinal Mooney had in common before the teams clashed in Division 4 state semifinal match on June 11.

The Ventures were making their 18^th state semifinal appearance but first since winning the 2003 state championship on the heels of 17 consecutive semifinal appearances. Mooney made its first semi appearance.

The Ventures (11-10-1) dominated Marine City (15-4-2) from start to finish and finally disposed of the outgunned Cardinals with three goals in the final 17:17 minutes in the first ever indoor high school soccer tournament game played at the new cavernous Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac before a crowd of 250.

The Cardinals held on to a scoreless tie at the half as Foley held an erratic 15-1 edge in shots before finishing with a 27-3 advantage in the game. Laura Fraschetti made six saves in each half to keep Mooney in the game. Amanda Mancini recorded two saves for the shutout.

With it's senior combination, Alex Schalk finally scored a goal with 17:17 remaining on Foley’s 23^rd shot of the match when she headed in a beautiful corner kick serve from Rachel Reed.

“I was really relieved after that goal. I was freaking out before that,” Schalk said. “I was confident and I knew we were going to get one because we were dominating them in the first half and the start of the second half. It was a set play that we’ve scored two goals like that this year. We call it Number 2 and that’s our favorite (corner kick) one. We just kind of look at each other and say play it to me, play it to me.”

The play not only spelled relief for Foley coach Aaron Miller, but caught his fancy as it unfolded.

“I was very relieved. But of all the goals to score on, what a beautiful goal. That was a state semifinal goal. That’s one the girls dream of... the game winning goal in the state semifinal,” Miller said. “As nicely as Alex finished that play, it was just as nice of a play on Rachel’s cross. She played a beautiful ball and Alex finished it.”

Foley finished off Mooney in the next few minutes. Foley’s 24^th shot came 5:06 later when Kyla Cross scored on a breakaway as Amber Williamson delivered the through ball. Williamson added a penalty kick with 9.1 seconds left to send Foley to its 15^th state finals appearance on Saturday.

For the first time since winning the season opener, Foley can claim it’s over .500 mark. The Ventures move on to play the Kalamazoo Christian-Suttons Bay winner in the D4 championship match at noon at Troy Athens.