(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list the photo credit as well.)
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
GRAND LEDGE, Mich. – Josh Ross didn’t mind taking a yellow card Saturday afternoon.
After scoring his second goal of the afternoon, Ross temporarily ripped off his shirt as he did a mad dash over to the Warren De La Salle student section on the northwest side of the stadium at Grand Ledge High School.
He was excited, understandably, but not because he scored two goals. Ross and his Warren De La Salle teammates clinched the deal with two late goals and emerged as the Division 2 state champions following the second-ranked Pilots’ 4-1 victory over 10th-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern.
De La Salle captured its sixth state title in its storied history, but first since winning the 2005 title in Division 1. That’s 19 years if you did the math and some 6,930 days between titles – but who is counting.
“That was my first yellow card of my entire career,” said Ross, who was All-State First Team and a junior and scored the second and third goals Saturday. “We were talking about it on the bus (here), and we were joking about it. I was going to get my first yellow card for taking my shirt off. It’s the greatest feeling I could ever feel.”
De La Salle outscored its opposition 70-26 this season with 10 clean sheets defensively. But no goals were bigger than the four Saturday, as De La Salle snapped its 19-year state title drought.
Last season, the Pilots did not have any seniors on its roster and took some lumps during the first half of the 2023 season. But De La Salle’s players learned some tough lessons before right the ship and making a run to the Division 2 state semifinals a year ago.
The Pilots’ run ended with a shootout loss to Mason in the Final Four.
With its entire roster returning this year, the Pilots went on a mission and were able to stake claim to the crown. De La Salle defeated Mason 3-1 in the state semifinals and Forest Hills Northern 4-1 in the finals to end a six-win postseason where the Pilots outscored those six foes 24-5.
“First and foremost, all praise and glory goes to God. We had a rough start to (last) year,” recalled Ross. “Our group is so close and even though I’m a senior I feel like I’m in the same class as the sophomores and juniors. We are a close group of boys that really nothing was going to stand in our way.”
Nothing. Not Forst Hills Northern, or Mason, or Dearborn Divine Child, New Boston Huron, Grosse Pointe North and Warren Woods-Tower – the Pilots’ long list of postseason opponents.
Thaier Mukhtar, one of the winningest coaches in Michigan boys soccer history, had been there before since taking over the fledging program back in 1983.
“We went to the Final Four last year and we lost in PKs to Mason without a senior on the team. The first time that has ever happened in my long career that I didn’t have a senior on the team,” noted Mukhtar. “It was a goal of ours to get back (to at least the Final Four). We had everyone returning. Every game we played in, we said, ‘you guys all have experience at this level.’ Every game we said that. Regional finals, state semifinals, we’ve been here (last year). We know the things we need to do. I think it’s a huge advantage.
“I think a lot of the credit goes to my assistant coaches. They all have roles in my program. All are in charge of one aspect or another. A couple of them are in charge of defense, we have a goalkeeper coach, a couple of guys are in charge of the guys up (top). The have a part in the decisions that we make. I run the whole thing but I rely on my assistant coaches a lot,” added Mukhtar. “I give the boys a lot of credit because it’s hard to play for a coach that is demanding and expects perfection. But with that you see the results.”
The result on this day was the school’s sixth state title, the others coming in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2005. The Pilots were also the state runner-up back in 1994 and reached the Final Four this season for the 13th time in program history, including two consecutive seasons. This season was different, as the Pilots rose to the top of the charts when it mattered most.
De La Salle (20-3-1) never trailed the Huskies (19-5-3), which was the exact opposite of the Pilots this season by essentially having a whole new starting lineup this season after graduating 15 players from last season. Forest Hils Northern only brought back eight total players to its roster and only two played substantial minutes.
The Pilots never trailed in this match, perhaps the first time these two schools have faced off on the pitch. De La Salle senior midfielder JJ Jurczyk headed home a serve from Ross with 29:39 still left in the first half to put the team up 1-0 in the 11th minute.
Forest Hills Northern stormed right back to net an equalizer with 28:55 left. Junior Liam Watson flicked the ball backwards and junior center back Dylan Van Skiver was pushed up in the box and was able to slip a shot into the back of the net just 1:04 after the goal. The goal came shortly after senior Henry Lincolnhol served a long ball into the box to help create the opportunity.
The Huskies, who graduated the 15 players from last year’s 16-2-0 team and did not have much deep postseason experience until this year, could not match De La Salle on the scoreboard.
Ross scored what proved to be the game-winner with 17:52 still to go in the first half off a pass from sophomore Andrew Corder.
De La Salle carried a lot more of the play in the second half and were able to cash in twice in the last five minutes to put the game away.
Ross scored his second goal – where he proceeded to take his shirt off afterwards – following Corder’s breakaway feed with 3:36 left.
Corder, the two-time leading goal scorer who set up the second and third goals, ended up corralling a pass from Ross before ripping int top shelf with 2:10 remaining for the icing on the cake.
Sophomore Dominic Baldaratta gained the win between the pipes for De La Salle making a pair of saves in the win. De La Salle outshot Forest Hills Northern 12-8 overall, including 7-3 with shots on frame, and even held a 6-4 edge off cornerkicks as well.
Junior Lukas Darling made three saves for the Huskies, who were making their fourth state finals appearance, and all since 2015.
“I’ve been here before, and even though it’s been close to 20 years since we won it, I’ve had the pleasure of winning a state championship before. These kids have not,” added Mukhtar. “I’m so glad these boys had a chance to experience all of this this year after losing in the semis last year. This is something that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”
DIVISION 2 FINAL FOUR TEAMS IN 2024
Warren De La Salle Collegiate
State Champions – 1990, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2005, 2024
State Runner-Up – 1994
Final Four Appearances – 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2018, 2023, 2024
Final Four Losses – 1984, 1987, 1997, 2011, 2018, 2023
Regional Champions – 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2018, 2023, 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 1998, 2004, 2008
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
State Champions – 2019
State Runner-Up – 2015, 2018, 2024
Final Four Appearances – 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024
Final Four Losses – 2022
Regional Champions – 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 2001, 2013, 2016
Mason
State Champions – 1989, 1990, 1997, 2015
State Runner-Up – 1986, 2023
Final Four Appearances – 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2023, 2024
Final Four Losses – 1992, 1993, 2005, 2014, 2024
Regional Champions – 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2023
Regional Finals Losses – 2002, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
Grand Rapids Christian
State Champions – 1998, 2001, 2021, 2023
State Runner-Up – None
Final Four Appearances – 1988, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2021, 2023, 2024
Final Four Losses – 1988, 1997, 2000, 2024
Regional Champions – 1988, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2021, 2023, 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 2011, 2017, 2018
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
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