MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
(Editor’s Note: The Michigan Soccer Network will continue its series about an assortment of Michigan-based youth club teams that competed in various age groups at various regional and national tournaments and playoffs during the months of June, July and August for all levels of the youth soccer pyramid. Send all pertinent information including results, stats, photos, and coach’s contact information to MSN Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or call the news department at 248-525-2349.)
BY DAN STICKRADT
DIRECTOR OF NEWS
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @MiSoccerNetwork
RICHMOND, Va. – Upsets happen in all sports.
It happened recently to the Nationals SC 08G Girls Academy Blue out on the soccer pitch in the Girls Academy League U16 Division this summer.
After a dominating effort over 10 months, the team fell shots in the national semifinals and ended up earning a third-place finish in the Girls Academy National Finals U16 Tournament held near Richmond, Virginia. The highly-touted side entered the postseason as one of the favorites.
The eight-team finals tournament took place July 11-14 at the River City Sportsplex in Richmond and featured six different age groups in the Girls Academy circles on the soccer pyramid.
At the finals tournament, Nationals SC 08G girls Academy Blue finished 2-1-0 with a 5-2 scoring edge and one clean sheet.
The team opened with a victory over Galaxy SC 08G Girls Academy (3-1) in the quarterfinals on July 11 and came back the next day on July 12 but came up on the short end of the stick with a defeat to Lou Fusz Athletic 08G Girls Academy (1-0).
In the third-place match on July 14, Nationals bounced back to blank City SC 08G Girls Academy (2-0) to cap a fine 2023-24 campaign.
The St, Louis, Mo.-based Lou Fusz Athletic 08G Girls Academy went on to claim the national championship with a 2-1 victory over Morris Plains, N.J.-based STA 08G Girls Academy.
The team put together some high finishes throughout the last year at various tournament and began the long haul with a Girls Academy League Mid-America U16 conference championship. Nationals finished 12-1-1 to rack up 37 points in the standings, seven points ahead of its nearest competitor, Indy Premier Soccer Club United 08G Girls Academy (30 points) in the eight-team division.
Over the course of 14 conference games, the league champions held a 56-11 scoring edge, a .858 winning percentage, eight shutouts and no shutouts against Nationals, who scored in every conference game.
The only blemishes on the conference season were a 3-1 setback to the Michigan Jaguars O8G Girls Academy and a 3-3 draw with Sockers FC 08G Girls Academy.
In the Girls Academy Playoffs, the team went 3-0-0 in group pool play to advance to the Girls Academy Finals U16 Tournament. Held at June 19-25 at Silver Lakes Sports Complex in Norco, California, Nationals SC 08G Girls Academy-Blue posted three shutouts at the tourney with a 9-0 scoring edge to advance to the national tournament.
The team recorded clean sheets against PA Classics 08G Girls Academy (2-0), Seattle Reign Academy 08G Girls Academy (5-0) and Florida United 08G Girls Academy (2-0) to cruise into the final week on a hot streak.
Combining the conference play, playoffs and national tournament, this Nationals SC 08G Girls Academy Blue team compiled a 17-2-1 record, a .850 winning percentage, 12 shutouts, a 70-13 scoring edge and only one shutout against coming in the national semifinals. The team also averaged 3.50 goals a game, posted a team goals-against-average of 0.65 and recorded 12 shutouts and recorded clean sheets 60 percent of its games (12-of-20 games).
The team also recorded multiple high finishes or titles at a variety of other tournaments over the past 10 months (September 2023 through July 2024).
Members of this talented side include Grace Battershell (D/M, Rochester Hills/Rochester Adams), McKenna Clouston (M, Washington Twp./Utica Eisenhower), Audrina Cook (F/M, Macomb Twp./Macomb Dakota), Lily Jeakle (F/M, Orion Twp./Lake Orion), Conamora Ndana (D/M, Warren/Warren Mott), Sloane Popov (F/M, Bloomfield Hills/Bloomfield Hills HS), Gabriella Riggio (F/M, Washington Twp./Romeo), Lauren Stanley (D/M, Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Pioneer), Danielle Wisser (D, Clarkston/Clarkston HS), Kayla Butki (D, Clarkston/Clarkston HS), Ava Collier (D/M/F, New Haven/New Haven HS), Gabriella Gojcaj (F/M, Macomb Twp./Utica Eisenhower), Ava Landstra (D/M, Grandville/Hudsonville Unity Christian), Hope Pierfelice (G, Almont/Almont HS), Camryn Quidort (D/M/F, Oxford/Oxford HS), Ava Ruffino (F/M, Shelby Twp./Romeo) and Maren Swan (M, Troy/Troy HS).
Each of these aforementioned players recently finished up either their freshmen or sophomore years of high schools in June at a wide variety of schools across Michigan.
(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 and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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Michigan-based Premier Media Group is expanding ... don't miss out
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Premier Media Group is expanding its broadcast net.
And we want you.
The Michigan-based PMG, founded in 2022, its flagship production the Michigan Soccer Network and all other affiliates, is actively scheduling games in a wide variety of high school leagues and conferences, small colleges, amateur, pre-professional, youth club, and other avenues of the beautiful game in Michigan.
The schedule for the fall semester is starting to fill up across Michigan.
The daily connections are being made and the spreading of our brand has brought in great reviews.
Would the coaches, administration, student-athletes, players and fans like for us to broadcast a game near you?
Regardless of the now-popular remote broadcast games, on-location broadcast games, on-location shows or in-studio daily shows, there is a simple process. Visit the website www.michigansoccernetwork.com or click below for details.
PMG will also be holding various “Win A Free Broadcast” contest at various parts of the fall, winter (indoor) and spring seasons.
"(Michigan Soccer Network) has does a great job making these kids feel special,” offered Michal Hatfield, girls soccer coach at Trenton High School who also coaches in the Detroit City FC youth club system. “The broadcasts were professionally done and we were very pleased when they did our games. They did a great job with (play-by-play), graphics and postgame interviews with the kids. And a lot of people saw it. We had uncles and aunts that have never seen their nieces play get a chance to watch them on YouTube). And all of the kids were able to jump on there (the YouTube channel) afterwards and watch the game.”
The MSN staff had the pleasure of broadcasting multiple games the last two school years for schools in the Oakland Activities Association and have received its fair share of feedback. The goal is to conduct broadcasts of games throughout the state of Michigan, especially in the larger populated regions.
“MSN has done a great job with broadcasts in our league (Macomb Area Conference),” said Trevor Foster, current head coach of the Romeo girls soccer program, goalkeepers coach for Oakland University’s soccer programs, and director at the Michigan Goalkeepers Academy. “I know the girls love it. And I know some of the parents were putting their earphones on and listening to the game when they were (in the stands) and it gives relatives a chance to watch games that they normally wouldn’t be able to.
“It’s as close to professional (broadcast) as any broadcast of high school soccer that you will see out there,” added Foster. “Plus, they do all types of (amateur and pre-professional) leagues out there (in Michigan).”
“We were very pleased, especially with the knowledge of high school soccer in the state of Michigan from the play-by-play announcers and color commentators,” said Todd Heugh, the current director of athletics at Troy Athens High School and a former coach at the school. “They put together a valuable (product) and the games are live on YouTube for everyone to watch, even if you are (a relative or an alumni) not in the area. I know coaches go on there (YouTube), too, to watch games of an upcoming opponent.”
The PMG staff has a goal of 100-plus games this fall from mid-August through November. The Michigan Soccer Network conducted a record 50 remote or in-person broadcasts during the month of June.
PMG also has contacts within Michigan, the Midwest and even in different parts of the U.S. and have become broadcast partners for more than 15 different leagues or franchises within those leagues over the past three years. PMG has multiple broadcasting rights for within the USL-League Two, USL-W League, UPSL, MWPL, NISA, WSPL and more and constantly expanding its web of coverage both on various YouTube channels and on our website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. It has broadcasted more high school boys soccer and high school girls soccer at more than 75 high schools in Michigan.
“MSN has been a great media partner for the Bucks and AFC,” said Costa Papista, President of the Flint City Bucks and Flint City AFC of the USL-League Two and USL-W League, respectively. “The production and overall quality of our live broadcasts are professional grade. Flint City fans, sponsors and supporters greatly appreciate the MSN quality. We are always receiving excellent feedback and comments from our fans and visiting fans as well.”
And now the busy season starts in earnest with high school, college and youth club team beginning the 2024-25 school year.
To schedule a game or to consult team members of our broadcast, reach out to the following persons in the PMG family of networks: Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner, 248-525-2083, jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com or new Director of Scheduling / Office Manager Alaina Gagnon, at agagnon@thepremiermediagrp.com and inquire about the broadcast options, packages, special packages and more.
For news on the soccer scene in Michigan, check out the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com for daily updates, game recaps, feature stories, previews and more for teams, players and coaches from a wide variety schools, amateur teams, colleges and youth club teams.
The PMG and MSN staff will continue to reach for its goal of providing quality broadcast on any network and in-depth coverage and content on it website.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
Interested in internships in broadcasting, communications, journalism, public relations or sales and marketing in the sports world? The Premier Media Group is seeking applications for current college students or students entering their senior or junior years of high school that have a career interest in working in different capacity of a constantly-evolving media world.
Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.
(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@thepremeiermediagrp.com.)
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