State championship prevue

By John K. Schroder

Ah. The Big Dance.

On Saturday, June 14 there will be big opportunities for some history shattering events to unfold as the MHSAA sponsors its 26^th annual Girls soccer state championships at Troy Athens High School and East Kentwood’s Pat Patterson Field.

Most eyes will focus on Division 3 where Hudsonville Unity Christian (24-1-1) has the chance to become the first school to win FOUR consecutive state championships while playing in its fifth straight title game and sixth in seven years!

            Jill Flietstra (17 shutouts) can become the only goalkeeper to ever win four crowns. She is the first to play in four straight championships. Lynn Clashman (Madison Heights Bishop Foley), Caroline Bonynge (East Grand Rapids), and Nikki Galas (Foley) have all posted 3-0 marks.            Laura Heyboer already owns the state’s career scoring mark having made a consistent scoring impression on her opponents with four consecutive seasons of 40 or more goals. Both girls are headed to Michigan State. Lindsay Jipping (19 goals) and Paige Capel (15) also provide some punch to an offense that has netted 120 goals.

Williamston, with big wins over Flint Powers and Country Day, is led by freshman Lisa Vogel (22), Victoria Beasley (20) and Becky Marton (19). GK Courtney Clem has been red hot and has posted 16 shutouts.

            Pick: HUC has too many weapons for Williamston, a first time visitor. The Crusaders’ seniors want to close a career that has ONLY one loss and one draw in four years.

The other three divisions each feature a team with eight losses or more. Only three teams (Bishop Foley in 1992, Troy in 1996, and Ann Arbor Greenhills in 2006) have previously reached the state championship match with eight losses—all three lost on the big stage. That little tidbit doesn’t bode well for Grosse Pointe North in D1, Bloomfield Hills Lahser in D2, and Foley in D4. However, last I checked the games were still played on the field and not on paper or monitors.

            In Division 2, Lahser (14-9-1) has earned a rematch with Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. The Rangers (23-1) defeated Lahser, 4-1, last year and are looking for their third crown in four years with a third coach. And the Grand Rapids Press reports that first year coach Jeremy Stacy will miss the Big Dance because he has his own big dance and wedding to attend on Saturday.

            Stacy doesn’t score goals anyhow. Kaely Schlosser (20), Erika Boll (19) and Michigan-bound Clare Stachel (16) provide the bulk of the offense, but the defense is very stingy and has yielded only 5 goals all year with Courtney McCoy posting 19 clean sheets.

            Lahser makes its third visit in three years with its third coach as well. Steve Cook gets the chance to earn the first title for the Knights. The only D2 school in the rugged top division of the OAA, Lahser has been battered and bruised, but is poised for the upset. It was the only OAA top division team to survive the district round.

            Anna Zambricki has scored 15 of the team’s total 36 goals including four game-winners in the tourney. Julia Dale scored the semifinal clincher and is second on the team with eight goals. Michigan-bound Haley Kopmeyer should get the call in goal.

Pick: Forest Hills Central delivers a shiny new wedding gift for its absentee coach.

In Division 1, two first time participants meet for the first time since Troy beat Brighton in 1994. Grosse Pointe North (14-8-2) stunned previously unbeaten Utica Eisenhower, 5-4, in overtime in a state semifinal to avenge 1-0 and 7-0 losses earlier to the Eagles. North learned from its semifinal shellacking (5-0 loss to Rochester) last year and offensive standout Olivia Stander has the Norsemen seeking the state title. Chelsea Dettrick scored twice including the golden goal to KO Ike in the semis.

Ann Arbor Huron (16-2-2) put a big notch in its belt by eliminating No.1 and unbeaten Northville in a regional shootout. The River Rats counter with a balanced scoring attack paced by Helen Steinhauser (11) Meg Boyer (10), Lisa Masini (10 including the game winner vs Portage Central). Taylor Dunn has 5 straight shutouts although she missed the second half of the semifinal match after being kicked in the head.

Pick: Huron edges the Norsemen, who lost the last five games of the regular season before making its magical run.

In Division 4, Foley (11-10-1) returns to the finals for the first time since winning the D3 crown in 2003. The Ventures are over the .500 mark for the first time since an opening day win thanks in large part to playing down at the D4 level. Despite its enrollment, the Ventures still compete in the top division of the Detroit Catholic League where perennial D2 powerhouse Birmingham Marian and other big D1 and D2 schools loom. Although Foley is the most decorated team in Michigan girls soccer history with 11 state championships in 14 previous trips, third year Coach Aaron Miller cautions anyone who attempts to make comparisons.

“Foley was last in the finals in 2003. I wasn’t here and none of the girls were here. So this is all new to all of us,” Miller said after the semifinal win. “It’s exciting for everybody, but there are no little sisters that grew up watching a big sister win a state title at Foley.”

Kalamazoo Christian (21-2) is the defending champion and the Comets are blazing another trail as they shoot for their fourth title overall (’03, ’04, ’07) and second back-to-back gig. Maegan Smith has 37 goals including a pair in the semi win over Charlevoix and Josie Alphenaar (19) provides additional support. Mandy Engbers was the winning keeper last year and has 18 shutouts to date.

Pick: Kazoo celebrates back-to-back titles.

Coaches corner: Chip Stencel (North), Todd Pheiffer (Huron), Steve Cook (Lahser), Jim Flore (Williamston), Aaron Miller (Foley), and whoever takes the reins for FHC, should take note—30 coaches have won in their first trip to the finals and 31 have lost on their maiden voyage.

… With a win, both Randy Heethuis (HUC) and Ron Smilanich can join an elite group of coaches with at least four state championship titles—Rick Larson of Foley (5), Tim Storch of Troy Athens (4), and Bob Bukari of Country Day (4).

… Heethuis makes his 6^th finals appearance, moving him into a tie for third place all time with Storch and Don Smith (retired) of Plymouth Canton. Bukari and Larson (not active) have guided seven teams each to the finals.

… Miller is the 6^th different coach to guide Foley to the finals since the Ventures won their first title in 1988. His predecessors all have winning records—Franco Pertot 3-2, Rick Larson 5-1, Horst Lehrer 1-0, John Buchanan 1-0, and Vito Albaceli 1-0.