(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 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
BYRON CENTER, Mich. – A year ago, Byron Center posted one the biggest upsets in the Division 1 state tournament.
The win came in the pre-district round over then-state-ranked East Kentwood (2-0) before the Bulldogs ran out of steam against 2022 Division 1 state runner-up Rockford (2-0) in the district semifinals.
Fast forward one year and two days later, Byron Center entertained East Kentwood once again, this time coming in the district semifinals. The Bulldogs made sure that East Kentwood would not exact some measure of revenge this year.
Byron Center picked up a 1-0 victory over the visiting Falcons to advance to the district finals for the first time in several years.
The Bulldogs, honorable mention in this week’s polls and the Ottawa Kent Conference-Green Division champions, will face unranked Grand Rapids Northview at 6 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 17) for the district trophy. Northview, up in Division 1 for the first time, upset state-ranked Rockford 3-2 Monday in the first district semifinal at Byron Center in a game that reached a shootout (4-3 on PKs).
Senior midfielder Kaleb Smith scored the game’s only goal to lift Byron Center (15-4-1) into the district finals. Senior Luke Philo recorded the clean sheet in goal, the team’s ninth of the season.
Byron Center hit a small snare late in the regular season by going 0-2-1 down the stretch before rebounding in the state tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Wyoming (3-1) last week before topping East Kentwood in the postseason for the second straight season.
Byron Center now owns a 56-15 scoring edge this season over 20 games. The Bulldogs are averaging 2.80 goals a game while lowering the team goals-against-average down to 1.34 on the campaign.
Byron Center opened 9-0-0 before dropping a game. The Bulldogs still finished 8-1-1 in the OKC-Green for 25 points, just ahead of runner-up Caledonia’s 24 points (8-2-0). Caledonia was upset in the first round by Northview (1-0).
GRAND RAPIDS NORTHVIEW 3, ROCKFORD 2 (2OT, SO): Northview found a way to knock off one of the state’s top programs the last three years, taking down the Rams in the district semifinals at Byron Center.
Northview (12-6-2), a longtime competitor in Division 2 before an enrollment boost jettisoned the Wildcats up into Division 1 this year.
Northview upset Caledonia in last week’s pre-district round (1-0) and now will face Bryon Center, a team that has been listed in the top 15 or honorable mention in the Division 1 rankings for virtually the whole season.
The Wildcats have recorded three shutouts this season all while scoring 41 goals but conceding 41 goals as well.
Rockford led 1-0 at the half. Northview outscored the Rams 2-1 in the second half to force overtime. There were no goals scored during the two 10-minute full overtime periods.
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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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(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 photo credit as well.)
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