(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
COURTESY PHOTO / ROMEO ATHLETICS
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
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MACOMB TWP., Mich. – There’s some misconception on whether or not Romeo has ever won a district championship in boys soccer.
Some say the Bulldogs shocked the world back in 1987 with district wins over Rochester Adams (1-0, district semifinals) and Troy (4-1, district finals) enroute to a Class A district title. Others say that 2024 is when the Bulldogs definitely – and finally – broke the hex and that Troy won that district game 37 years ago in 1987.
Regardless, there’s no disputing that Romeo is clearly a Division 1 district champion in 2024, as the Bulldogs, honorable mention in the Division 1 polls, took down host Macomb Dakota 3-1 Friday evening.
Previously, if Romeo had or hadn’t won a district – either way it’s been forever and a lifetime for the program and the Bulldogs have earned it with some more talented rosters and elevated level of play the last couple of years.
“We did it,” beamed Romeo coach Vinny Vasilevski, whose team was 15-4-3 last season and have 29 wins over the past two seasons, including recording a 14-4-2 ledger this season.
“I talked to our old (athletics director) and he doesn’t recall us winning one back in the 80s. We’ll go with that. It sounds better if this is our first one,” laughed Vasilevski. “If we did, then (1987) was a very long time ago. I’m proud of these guys because we have been competitive for the last several years, but we always seemed to run into some really good teams … (Rochester) Adams, Eisenhower, the other Rochester schools."
“But this year we got moved out of that district. I told the guys at the beginning of the season that this is our year. They set their goals of winning the MAC-Red and district championship. We had some injuries and we came up short in the MAC-Red behind Eisenhower. But when it came to the district, we went out there and won it,” added Vasilevski. “I couldn’t be happier for these boys. They earned it.”
Romeo (14-4-2) advances to the Division 1 regional semifinals Oct. 22 at Berkley Hurley Stadium at Anderson Middle School, where Macomb Area Conference-Blue Division champion St. Clair Shores Lakeview awaits at 7 p.m. Lakeview (14-2-2) ended its district drought with a 2-0 upset Friday over Macomb Area Conference-White Division champion Grosse Pointe South (15-4-3).
Lakeview had previously lost in the district finals in three of the last four years and had not won a district title in over a decade. The Huskies won several district crowns back in the 1990s.
Romeo, on the other hand, had reached the district finals only once in the past decade and made the most of its grand opportunity as the top seed this season.
The Bulldogs had spent most of the last 40 years in the same district with the likes of the Rochester schools, Utica, Utica Eisenhower and even at times the two Troy schools (Troy, Troy Athens) before being shipped further east to Anchor Bay this year. There had been a constant roadblock in recent and distant years and everywhere in-between and that came being stuck in tough district with multiple powerhouse programs.
Not this time – and the Bulldogs seized the moment and grand opportunity.
Senior forward Anthony Elias, who spent the last three years in the Vardar MLS Next Academy system, scored the second and third goals for Romeo, including the eventual game-winner, giving the one-year wonder 27 goals on the campaign despite missing three games to an injury.
With senior midfielder Alex Cappuso, last year’s Macomb Area Conference-White Division MVP, going down with a season-ending knee injury in the first game after Labor Day weekend, a 4-0 victory over Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, the Bulldogs had to move some key players around in order to soften that blow.
Instead of packing it in, a multitude of players stepped it up. Elias more than did his part of the offensive end.
The Bulldogs finished second in the Macomb Area Conference-Red Division to Utica Eisenhower (9-1-0, 27 points) and just a sliver back at 24 points (8-2-0). Romeo won the MAC-White Division in 2023 to earn a promotion up to the MAC-Red but a whirlwind of injuries dampened that chance.
The Bulldogs, who brought back 11 varsity players this season and graduated nine players, did not squander the chance in the district finals this season. They capitalized on it and are now cruising into the regionals playing with confidence.
Junior midfielder Joseph Celaj scored the first goal for Romeo, while junior midfielder Brayden Burke added two assists for the Bulldogs.
Senior Paul Dedvukovic scored the lone goal for Dakota (9-8-1), but that tally came with just 1:30 left and the game was pretty much decided by that point. The Bulldogs slammed the door on the Cougars’ season and raised the trophy high Friday night after ending decades of frustrations.
Romeo has outscored the opposition 58-25 this season despite injuries to key starters. The Bulldogs have averaged nearly 2.90 goals a game and conceded 1.25 goals an outing. Romeo is 6-1-1 in its last eight games with a 19-9 scoring edge during that stretch.
“We’re playing some really good soccer right now. It stinks that Alex had that injury early in the season, but we’ve had a lot of guys that stepped up and we’ve got a couple of others back that were out,” reminded Vasilevski, whose team is 29-7-4 the past two seasons. “We’re going to go into regionals and give it everything that we have.”
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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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