BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
WILLIAMSTON, Mich. – For a program that reached the Division 3 state finals a year ago, Grosse Ile is playing lime ateam that wants to go back to the final weekend of the school year.
The fifth-ranked Red Devils outlasted Ann Arbor Greenhills 2-1 Tuesday in the Division 3 regional semifinals at Williamston High School to reach the Elite Eight again this season.
Grosse Ile will face honorable-mention Ovid-Elsie, 3-2 winners over Eaton Rapids in a game that reached a shootout Tuesday in the other regional semifinals match, at 6 p.m. Thursday at Williamston in the regional finals.
Fresh off their 12th straight district championship, the Huron League runners-up scored two second half goals, including the game-winner in the 75th minute to ousts the Gryphons.
Grosse Ile’s Aubrey Korody scored a close-range shot to put the Red Devils on top and the defense made the 2-1 lead stand in the end.
Alaina Korody banged home a penalty kick in the 60th minute to stake Grosse Ile (15-2-5) to a 1-0 lead.
Marie Smith countered in the 71st minute for Greenhills (8-7-1).
Monica Arndt notched seven saves for the win in goal for the Red Devils.
“I thought we had the better chances in the first half, but in the second half I felt Forest Hills Central controlled play. We let them have their (possession) but tightened down in the defensive (third) and really made it hard for them,” said Spring Lake coach Becky May. “We were able to score, gave up a goal, but out defense and goalkeeper did a great job down the stretch.
“Once you get to a shootout, anything can happen,” added May. “We made all four of ours but they missed on two. We didn’t even have to take our fifth shot. We practice those all the time in practice and we had four of our best (shooters) step up and make theirs to help us (advance).”
Kyle Shelton gave Spring Lake a 1-0 lead in the 69th minute when she blasted home a rebound opportunity after Clare Howe’s free kick hit the goal post.
Forest Hills Central (15-6-1) tied the game in the 71st minute when senior Syd Ryan uncorked a laser off the crossbar, but the ball ricocheted down and sophomore Audrey Leetsma was there on the door step to head home the equalizer past Spring Lake All-State goalkeeper Jessica Stewart.
Neither team would score down the stretch of during both two full 10-minute overtime periods, setting the stage for a shootout to break the stalemate.
Seniors Clara Saunders, Kiele Stephenson, Ella Andree and junior Naomi Force all converted their penalties in the shootout, while Forest Hills Central made two but misfired on two attempts over and wide of the goal. The Lakers didn’t even have to attempt their fifth shot as they had a two-shot difference in the shootout with Force gaining the clincher.
OVID-ELSIE 3, EATON RAPIDS 2 (2OT, SO): The dream season for Ovid-Elsie continues.
Honorable mention in the state rankings, the Marauders, fresh off their first-ever district title, advanced to the regional finals with this regional semifinals victory at Williamston High School that reached double overtime and a shootout to decide the winner.
Neither team scored during regulation with Ovid-Elsie eventually registering a 4-2 edge on PKs to prevail in the end. On her 16th birthday, sophomore Lilian Bates notched the game-clincher with her penalty shot to helped the Marauders win their third straight postseason game in a shootout.
Eaton Rapids scored twice, once late in the first overtime period and another just 12 seconds into the second overtime session on goals by Kennedi Crow. Ovid-Elsie (15-03-3) fought back with seniors Hailee Campbell and Evalyn Cole tallying for the Marauders to knot the score at 2-2 entering the shootout. The goals came just 32 seconds apart with 6:48 and 6:16 remaining in the second overtime. Dannika Campbell also starred defensively for the winners.
Cole, Hailee Campbell, Dannika Campbell and Lilian Bates scored in succession during the shootout for Ovid-Elsie. Crow and Hannah Garrity scored the first two attempts for Eaton Rapids (14-7-0) but the Greyhounds misfired on their final two attempts and Ovid-Elsie’s Bates seal the deal in the end.
FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC 1, ALMONT 0: After finishing third in the Saginaw Valley League after having a chance in the final week of the regular season to win it, the second-ranked Chargers have moved onto the regional finals for the fourth straight season with this narrow in Tuesday over Almont. Lexie Affrica scored an unassisted goal and Maria Thompson notched the shutout for Powers Catholic (16-4-2). Almont, the Blue Water Area Conference champion that was ranked 13th coming into the tournament, finishes 16-4-1 after winning back-to-back district titles.
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY 1, WARREN REGINA 0: Freshman Magan Mateer scored of an assist from senior Macy Riutta and DCD advances to the regional finals with this narrow win featuring two top-15 teams at Clawson City Park. Mercedes Arinez notched the shutout for 12th-ranked Country Day (7-5-4). Sabrina Kiryakoza starred in goal for Regina (9-6-3).
GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN 5, THREE RIVERS 0: Fourth-ranked and regional host South Christian cruised into the regional finals with this five-goal win over unranked three Rivers in a Division 3 regional semifinal in Byron Center. The Sailors improved to 18-2-2 on the season and will face top-ranked and rival Hudsonville Unity Christian at 6 p.m. Thursday in the regional finals. Three Rivers finishes 9-6-3 with back-to-back district titles under the Wildcats’ belt.
HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN 6, GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL 0: Defending Division 3 state champion scored early and often in this regional semifinal in Byron Center and advanced to the regional finals with the lopsided victory. The Crusaders improved to 19-1-1 and will face host South Christian on Thursday in the regional finals. Grand Rapids Catholic Central finishes 10-8-1.
FREMONT 3, HOWARD CITY TRI-COUNTY 2: Mia Clemence scored three first-half goals and unranked Fremont held on down the stretch in this Division 3 regional semifinal at Clare High School. Tri-County (18-8-0) scored two late goals but could not net the equalizer. Fremont (16-4-1) will face 14th-ranked Freeland in the regional finals Thursday.
FREELAND 2, TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS-LIBERTY UNIFIED 0: Ranked 14th in the final regular season polls, the Falcons advanced with this shutout win Tuesday at Clare High School. Freeland improved to 14-4-5 and will face Fremont at Clare on Thursday’s with a berth in the Final Four on the line. Mia Maxwell scored the game-winner and assisted on Reece Conlee’s insurance goal for the Falcons. Adelyn Senkowski notched the shutout for Freeland. Traverse City St. Francis-Liberty, a unified team of three high schools, finishes its best campaign in program history with a 15-2-2 record.
DIVISION 4
ROYAL OAK SHRINE 2, PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN 1: In a battle of top-10 teams in Division 4, second-ranked Shrine prevailed over ninth-ranked Plymouth Christian in the regional semifinals at Riverview Gabriel Richard. Shrine (12-3-5) advances to face CHSL-AA Division rival Jackson Lumen Christian Thursday night in the regional finals.
JACKSON LUMEN CHRISTI 2, MANCHESTER 0: Lumen Christi opened the campaign with a 3-1 victory over Manchester. The unranked Titans got a chance to defeat the Flying Dutchmen a second straight time and delivered this knockout blow in the regional semifinals at Riverview Gabriel Richard. Lumen Christi snapped Manchester’s 17-game win streak and advanced to the regional finals to face powerhouse and CHSL-AA Division foe Royal Oak Shrine. Brooke Lefere scored off a pass from Paitlyn Petitto and Codi Ruge also scored for the Tians (11-7-0). Izzy Ermatinger made 10 saves for the shutout. Megan Edwards registered 17 saves for senior-heavy Manchester, which enjoyed its best season to date and finished 17-3-0 with two of the three losses coming against Lumen Christi.
AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRISTIAN 8, HEMLOCK 2: The eighth-ranked Lancers rolled out to a 4-0 halftime advantage and never looked back in recording this regional semifinals win Tuesday over Hemlock. Leah Zarrilli notched the hattrick which put her over the 100 goals barrier for Oakland Christian (15-4-0). Izzy Kruger had a goal and an assist and Emma Streich also scored for Hemlock (15-5-1).
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN 2, BATTLE CREEK CALHOUN CHRISTIAN-ST. PHILLIP-CLIMAX SCOTTS UNIFIED 0: Defending state champion scooted by Calhoun in this regional semifinal at Portage Northern. The sixth-ranked Comets improved to 16-4-2 on the year and will face formerly state-ranked and honorable mention Grandville Calvin Christian in the regional finals Friday at Portage Northern. The game will be a rematch of last year’s regional semifinals clash between the two powerhouse programs.
GRANDVILLE CALVIN CHRISTIAN 6, ST. JOSEPH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CATHOLIC 2: After losing in the regional semifinals last season to Kalamazoo Christian, the Squires advanced to Friday’s regional finals where they will face longtime nemesis Kalamazoo Christian at Portage Northern. Calvin Christian improved to 15-5-0 on the year, while BCS League champion Our Lady of the Lake Catholic finishes with a 16-4-1 record.
GRAND RAPIDS NORTHPOINTE CHRISTIAN 4, SHELBY 0: Seventh-ranked NorthPointe Christian advanced to the regional finals with this shutout win Tuesday over unranked Shelby at Big Rapids.
ELK RAPIDS 3, MIDLAND CALVARY BAPTIST 0: After reaching the Division 3 state semifinals the past two seasons, Elk Rapids is trying to do the same thing this year down in Division 4. The unranked Elks moved to 15-8-0 on the year with a young team and advanced to Saturday’s regional finals at Clare High School with this shutout victory over the Kings. Kendall Standfest continued her offensive tear in the postseason despite playing with a leg injury, scoring three more goals to give her 11 tallies in the postseason. Standfest, an All-State First Team player last year, scored twice in the first half and added an insurance goal in the second half for the Elks. Natasha Beebe recorded the clean sheet in goal for Elk Rapids. Midland Calvary, which joined the MHSAA five years ago after competing in the MACS, finished 13-7-0 but has won back-to-back district titles for the first time in program history.
SAGINAW NOUVEL CATHOLIC CENTRAL 8, MEMPHIS 0: Ranked 11th in the state heading into the state tournament, Nouvel advanced to the regional finals for the second straight season with this win over Memphis (9-9-0). Nouvel will face eighth-ranked Auburn Hills Oakland Christian in the regional finals Thursday at Goodrich.
(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 or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. Go to MSN News in the upper left corner, scroll down to Report A Score and send in all of the pertinent information from your contest.)
(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 of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. 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.)
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