(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
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GRAND LEDGE, Mich. – Mission visioned. Misson accomplished.
Rochester Adams captured its second straight Division 1 state title in three years with a senior-heavy roster, although with mostly a new team from two years ago. The fifth-ranked Highlanders capped their memorable state tournament run Saturday with a 2-0 shutout of honorable mention Byron Center in the Division 1 state finals at Grand Ledge High School.
With 17 seniors strong – including five coming over from the MLS Next Academy circles and playing high school soccer for the first time – finished up the job they envisioned months ago thanks to its shutout and dominating effort against the Bulldogs, who were making their first-ever appearance in the Final Four this season and subsequent state finals appearance after a magical run of their own.
Adams (18-2-4) featured not only 17 seniors and two returning NCAA Division I recruits – but welcomed in Alex Rosin, Salvatore DiNoto, Anthony Piacentini, Jameson Smith and Logan Lilla, all five who are highly sought-after NCAA Division I recruits in their own right – and navigated the entire season of a loaded schedule which ended with the school’s third state title.
The Highlanders have now won crowns in 1999, 2022 and 2024, finished as the state runner-up in 2001 and 2014, and reached the Final Four in 2004, 2009 and 2015.
Senior Anthony Page – the only third-year starter on the roster and only played that saw minutes in the 2022 state championship game against Rockford (2-0) – fittingly scored the eventual game-winning goal Saturday.
Corralling a perfectly-slotted pass from Rosin, a Notre Dame commit, Page went in along the right side of the box and blasted home a shot past Byron Center All-State senior goalkeeper Luke Philo with 18:09 remaining in the first half.
“The first (state title) felt great, but this one feels a bit better because it’s our senior year (and I) have a lot of friends on the team and a lot of emotions right now,” admitted Page, who finished the year with seven goals playing outside midfielder as opposed to an outside back as a sophomore.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” continued Page, another NCAA Division I and Division II recruit. The whole team is in awe. I have no words for it. We’re just insanely happy."
Adams would score again with 6:58 remaining in the half. Again, Rosin found senior teammate and Ohio State-commit Salvatore DiNoto streaking down the right side before DiNoto was able to push an insurance tally past Philo.
Philo, an All-State Honorable Mention keeper last year and one of the state’s top goalkeepers this season, also made a pair of point-blank range shots in the first half to keep the close. He made six first-half saves and nine overall in the contest, but didn’t get the help on the offensive end to help pull the upset of the Highlanders.
“Tactically (Byron Center) sat back a bit and they look to counter, so those holes are there for you. That’s what we were doing. We were looking for those (holes) and fortunate enough to get two goals from the beginning which really helped,” said 16th-season head Adams coach Josh Hickey. “They came out really in a different shape in the second half. We took advantage when we could.”
Adams outscored the opposition 64-16 this season with 13 shutouts in 24 games. The Highlanders finished 10-2-4 against teams that were ranked or listed as honorable mention at least one week this season or listed in different parts of the campaign – and that noteworthy and challenging schedule included a state tournament journey that included six wins and a 17-4 scoring edge with four shutouts during the postseason run.
Overall, Adams outscored its opposition 64-16 this season, averaged some 2.67 goals a game, conceded only 0.67 goals a game, recorded 13 shutouts and were shut out only three times this season during the challenging schedule. Adams also finished with a .750 win percentage, posted a 12-1-1 record in their final 14 games, and recorded clean sheets about .542 percentage of the time.
Even in their final loss to Ann Arbor Huron (3-2) back on Oct. 5, the Highlanders subbed out its entire starting lineup in the second half before giving up a 2-0 lead and dropping that game to the River Rats. The only other loss was 2-0 to defending state champion Troy Athens on Sept. 9 when Adams was missing three starters.
“We carried 27 guys this year, including injuries because we had a couple of guys out and we lost a couple of guys to injuries in the postseason, and not all of those goals we allowed came against our starting lineup,” offered Hickey. “We also didn’t have all of our key guys really until the beginning of September, then we lost another guy to a broken (collarbone) in the regional semifinals and also had a guy get a red card in that game versus Troy and had to sit out the Romeo game (in the regional finals). But we persevered all season long and we were able to finish it off today.”
Against Byron Center, Adams came out on fire by controlling play with its college-like possession game and eventually holding an 18-2 shots edge in the first half, including 8-0 with shots on frame in the first 40 minutes. The uber-talented Highlanders were rewarded with two goals in the final 18:09 of the first half.
In the second half, Byron Center made some adjustments and outshot Adams 5-4 but could never put a single shot on target and claw their way back into the game.
Adams held a 22-7 overall shots edge, including 11-0 with shots on goal, and also doubled up the Bulldogs off cornerkicks, 4-2.
But having five newcomers come back to join the roster and help Adams chase its title dreams, the extra talent was unrivaled this season.
“For me it’s everything becaue I’m in the school with these guys. I’m a teacher over there at Adams, so I see them in the halls all the time,” added Hickey, who has coached five Final Four teams and two state championships squads at Adams. “I’m in constant conversations about wanting to play and not being able to and all of that. Regardless of that, these guys came in and we’re committed to it. They’re good kids, good leaders and it’s not just about them. We had a great crew coming back, so (the newcomers) were able to blend right with them. I’m just happy they got this stage. People needed to see these guys play. It’s fortunate for them that they able to do that.”
Senior Reid Dennis, one of three returning Highlanders from the 2022 state championship team but did not see any postseason minutes in that run as a third-string goalkeeper as a sophomore, came off his line to coral a few crosses, set pieces and the ball being played back to the keeper during the game. He did not have to record an official save in recording his team’s 13th clean sheet of the season and 24th over the last two campaigns.
Adams won a district title in 2023 with 11 shutouts during that injury-riddled season with Dennis as the starting goalkeeper.
Byron Center had a phenomenal season which saw the Bulldogs (19-5-1) win the Ottawa Kent Conference-Green Division (8-1-1) title for the first time, capture just their second district title in the past decade-plus, win the school’s first-ever regional title in boys soccer and advance past the state semifinals in a penalty kick shootout over Oxford (2-1, 5-4 on PKs) just to get to the state finals. The Bulldogs also upset previously-unbeaten and top-ranked Portage Central in the regional finals and had a shootout win over Grand Haven in the regional semifinals
Byron Center also outscored the opposition 64-21 this season, recorded 10 shutouts, posted a .760 win-percentage and set all type of program records along the way.
“These guys worked so hard this season. They put in so much work and they’re just a special group. I couldn’t be prouder of them,” praised second-year Byron Center head coach Chad Bays, who as an assistant coach was on the sidelines at East Kentwood which played in six stat title games during the previous 20 years. “They left everything out on the field. They played a great second half and I thought they answered the call really well (at the half). They never gave up. We gave ourselves a chance. That’s all you can ask for.”
BOYS SOCCER – 2024 STATE SEMIFINALISTS OVER THE YEARS
DIVISION 1
Rochester Adams
State Champions – 1999, 2022, 2024
State Runner-Up – 2001, 2014
Final Four Appearances – 1999, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2024
Final Four Losses – 2004, 2009, 2015
Regional Champions – 1999, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 2013, 2016
Byron Center
State Champions – None
State Runner-Up – 2024
Final Four Appearances – 2024
Final Four Losses – None
Regional Champions – 2024
Regional Finals Losses – None
Saline
State Champions – None
State Runner-Up – 2003
Final Four Appearances – 2003, 2008, 2014, 2024
Final Four Losses – 2008, 2014, 2024
Regional Champions – 2003, 2008, 2014, 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 2007, 2020, 2022
Oxford
State Champions – None
State Runner-Up – None
Final Four Appearances – 2024
Final Four Losses – None
Regional Champions – 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 1995, 2002, 2005
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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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