(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. – The first boys soccer state championship is finally in the record books for Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.
The top-ranked Fighting Irish scored three first-half goals and hung on in the final 10 minutes to defeat 10th-ranked Elk Rapids 3-2 in the Division 3 state finals at Grand Ledge High School.
Four-year starter Will Lanham had a goal and an assist and was a key player all along for the Irish, who built up over the last four seasons to help Notre Dame Prep reach the state finals for the first time since 2000.
This Irish team took the program to new heights, as NDP played a rigorous schedule to prepare them for a potential lengthy tournament run and it more than paid off in the end. Notre Dame Prep finally stands at the top of the pyramid at the conclusion of the season.
“We went out there and gave everything that we had,” offered Lanham. “we have a rule in the first 10 minutes that we got to be (playing full out) and we got those three goals in the first half.
Notre Dame Prep (23-2-0), an Independent that played a multitude of schools ranked in the top 15 or listed as honorable mention in one of the four divisions, passed multiple tests this season to earn its first-ever crown.
“Our region is the toughest region in Division 3. We battled through injuries, and we battled through (tough) teams to get this championship,” added Lanham. “It’s awesome to make history for my school. It just means a lot with everybody here, all our peers, our athletics director and everyone here. It’s great to finally win it.”
Rob Suffredini, who took over the program 10 years ago and was an assistant at Division 2 state finalist Warren De La Salle for 14 seasons, pointed to the team’s schedule as a key factor for the team’s run. There was nothing that the Irish saw in the tournament that they hadn’t seen in the regular season.
“You watch this game, and I really think our schedule and the level of the teams we’ve played, (Elk Rapids) wasn’t really ready for it. By that time, we were up by three goals,” offered Suffredini. “I think iron sharpens steel and I think our schedule rally made us strong and to be 23-2 with our schedule its was a special year – it really is. To only have one team we couldn’t avenge (Troy), we got (Detroit) Country Day (in the district finals), so we got that one back, and (Division 1 state-ranked) Troy was just way better that night. Other than that, we passed every test. We didn’t have any ties. A couple of years ago (2022) we had nine of them (ties). But 23-2 is special. It’s the first state championship on the boys’ side. I’m thrilled – it took 10 seasons – but it all more than paid off.”
The Irish had previously lost in the Division 2 state finals to Plainwell (2-0) back in 2000, while NDP also lost in the state semifinals back in 1997, just their third year under new ownership. The school previously operated under Pontiac Catholic or Pontiac Oakland Catholic prior to 1995.
Notre Dame Prep held a 13-1 shots edge in the first half (7-0 on target) and scored on consecutive shots on frame to take a 2-0 lead.
Junior Daniel Lebanion set up the first goal for Notre Dame Prep, serving the ball through traffic to junior Benjamin Liparoto who ran onto the ball and buried a left-footed shot into the back of the net with 31:33 still to play in the first half.
Notre Dame Prep tallied again with 21:54 remaining when Lebanion slotted the ball to Lanham, who controlled the ball with his chest down to his feet, turned and uncorked a left-footed banger that sailed low and just inside the right goal post.
The Irish was able to add a third goal with 5:52 left in the opening half, when Liparoto netted his 10th goal of the campaign off a pass from Lanham.
The Irish outscored its opposition 84-22 this season with 12 shutouts, and only allowed the Elk to generate just one shot in the first half that was blocked about 10 yards outside the box.
Notre Dame Prep outshot the Elks by a 21-6 margin, including 11-3 with shots on frame, and even held a 6-2 edge off cornerkicks.
Elk Rapids, which played most of the season without the services of senior Noah Hilley, out with an Augus-based knee injury, and actually had a player sent to the bench with 4:47 to play on a red card, still fought hard to the end. The Elks were resilient all season which helped them win the new Northern Shores Conference, district and regional titles – their 18th in program history – but met their match on the season’s final day.
The Elks, who were making their 18th appearance in the Final Four this season but first finals appearance since 1998, never gave up against the uber-talented Irish. The work ethic resulted in five total second-half shots, three of frame and two goals in the final 10 minutes. Elk Rapids just ran out of time to try to net an equalizer.
Sophomore Tyler Standfest headed home a long serve into the box from junior Hayden Hresko with 10:06 to go to trim the deficit down to 3-1. The Elks tallied again with just 32 seconds remaining in the game when Hresko was able to get on a Standfest cross to trim the deficit down to 3-2.
The comeback was a little too late for Elk Rapids, which knocked off three consecutive top-15 teams in Alma (No. 11), Kingsford (No. 4) and Hartford (No. 9) in succession to reach the finals.
“We got to see for the first time in person the talent on the other team. It’s one thing to watch it on video,” offered veteran Elk Rapids coach Nate Plum. “It’s another thing to see it (in person). They don’t click (minutes) off. You have to give a lot of credit to the other team (Notre Dame Prep).
“We talked a lot about heart, about grit in the locker room. That’s kind of what gotten us to this point, right?,” continued Plum. “From the way we started off the season (0-3-0) to where we are now. I think you see the heart come through in the end. I wish we could take back a couple of those things (cards and fouls), and I’m sure the boys would say the same thing. There’s a lot of (apologies) afterwards. But there’s a lot of emotions that go into it and it’s hard not to be super involved like that.”
DIVISION 3
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
State Champions – 2024
State Runner-Up – 2000
Final Four Appearances – 1997, 2000, 2024
Final Four Losses – 1997
Regional Champions – 1997, 2000, 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 2016
Elk Rapids
State Champions – 1997, 1998
State Runner-Up – 1989, 1995, 1996, 2024
Final Four Appearances – 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
Final Four Losses – 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2020, 2021, 2022
Regional Champions – 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
Regional Finals Losses – 2014, 2019
LISTEN THE AUDIO-ONLY OF THIS GAME HERE: www.youtube.com/@MICHIGANSOCCERNETWORK
(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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An asterisk * denotes the season came in the old Michigan Suburban Coaches Association state tournament prior to the MHSAA state being contested.
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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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