(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
NOVI, Mich. – It’s not about how you start, but how you finish. Novi Detroit Catholic Central is proof of that theory.
Like a slow-moving train that finally picked up the pace once it got into rural territory, DCC extended its stay Tuesday in the Division 1 state tournament with a 1-0 regional semifinals victory over Okemos at Novi Meadows Soccer Stadium.
At one point this season, the Shamrocks were 3-5-1 overall and struggling with consistency.
Not anymore.
Unranked Catholic Central (10-6-3) has ventured on a 7-1-2 streak over its last 10 games and have not conceded a goal in the postseason. The Shamrocks own a 16-0 scoring edge in their four postseason wins, while during the last 10 games CC has outscored the opposition 33-8 with six shutouts.
Catholic Central was 6-6-3 entering the state tournament.
Julian Quick scored the game’s lone goal in the first half against the newly-renamed Wolves. Kei Zarko Yokoyano, who got the deciding penalty kick in a 1-0 shootout victory (7-6 on penalties) against second-ranked Northville last week, served a long ball from close to 30 yards out and Quick snuck a ball into the near post after squeezing into space between a defender and Okemos senior goalkeeper Griffin White. The game-winning goal came with 7:44 remaining in the first half.
The Shamrocks defense made that stand, while Jack Sievert recorded his team’s eighth shutout of the season. Detroit Catholic Central now owns a 75-28 edge in scoring this season.
Okemos (8-9-4) last made a run to the regionals three years ago in 2021 when a senior-heavy squad went on to capture the Division 1 state title. The Wolves made a run this season despite having numerous sophomores and juniors on the roster.
White finished with five saves for Okemos, which outscored its foes 51-29 this season.
OXFORD 6, WEST BLOOMFIELD 1: Oxford has really rebounded well since dropping its first and only game of the season to third-ranked Troy.
The Wildcats lost that game 2-0 on Oct. 3 and ended up third in the loaded Oakland Activities Association-Red Division behind champion Troy and runner-up Rochester Adams.
Oxford, which improved to 15-1-5 – perhaps its best record since the mid-1990s – advanced with a dominating effort over first-time district champion West Bloomfield in this Division 1 regional semifinals clash Tuesday at Novi Meadows Soccer Stadium.
Seventh-ranked Oxford advanced to the regional finals for just the fourth time in the last 30 years and will face Noi Detroit Catholic Central at 6 p.m. Thursday night also at Meadows Stadium. Previously, the Wildcats lost in the regional finals to Detroit Country Day (1994), Petoskey (2002) and East Lansing (2005) with the 1994 and 2005 defeats coming against the eventual state champions and all three of those regional finals losses came in the Class B/Division 2 state tournament.
This is the furthest Oxford has advanced since moving up to Division 1 in 2011.
Catholic Central defeated Oxford 2-0 in the D-1 regional semifinals when its star player and eventual All-State Dream Team selection Diego Madel was in the hospital and available for the game. Madel is currently playing college soccer at an NCAA Division II school out east.
Ryan Pietsch netted the hattrick to pace Oxford. Drew Cady added two goals and two assists, Justo Pepi scored one goal, while Max Bican and Ronan McDonough picked up single assists for the Wildcats.
Oxford has now outscored the opposition 65-18 this season with nine shutouts, while the Wildcats own a 12-4 scoring edge in the postseason.
Senior Kinan Abdulrazzak scored a late goal for West Bloomfield, which finished 9-7-2 overall. Abdulrazzak, a Division I recruit, scored 39 of his team’s 52 goals this season, as the Lakers outscored the opposition 52-39 and captured their first district trophy last week with a 4-0 shutout over Walled Lake Central in the final.
— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / Michigan Soccer Network / National Soccer Network
(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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