May 304 min read

TUESDAY’S PREP GIRLS SOCCER DISTRICT ROUNDUP Athens edges Berkley on PKs; Gull Lake survives Plainwell in top-five clash of titans; Troy, Marian cruise

TUESDAY’S PREP GIRLS SOCCER DISTRICT ROUNDUP: Athens edges Berkley on PKs; Gull Lake survives Plainwell in top-five clash of titans; Troy, Marian cruise

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – Lauren DeJonckheere and Ashley Miller saved the day for Troy Athens

DeJonckheere tied the game late in regulation, again tied the game late in overtime and also converted a penalty shot, while Miller saved a PK in a shootout as 10th-ranked Troy Athens prevailed with a 3-2 shootout win over Berkley in a Division 1 district semifinals Tuesday at Birmingham Seaholm.

The Red Hawks held a 5-4 edge on penalties during the shootout after the two teams were tied 2-2 after two full overtime periods.

Athens will face arch-rival and third-ranked Troy at 7 p.m. Thursday at Seaholm for the district championship.

Locked in a scoreless tie, Berkley broke through with just 3:28 left in regulation when Maeve Nolan set up Madi Bonsall for a close-range goal. The Bears could not hang on for the upset.

It took Lauren DeJonckheere just 32 seconds later when she roped in a bending shot from just outside the box with 2:56 remaining in regulation which eventually forced overtime.

The Bears (12-4-5) regained the lead with 6:34 to play in overtime when Nolan set up Nora Sleeman for a shot and she rang it off the goal post and into the corner of the goal for a 2-1 Berkley advantage.

Again, the lead was not etched in cement, as DeJonckheere broke free in space again and netted the equalizer with just 3:28 remaining in the second overtime sessions at Wayland High School.

In the shootout, Miller stopped the Bears’ second penalty kick and Athens made all five of their attempts with DeJonckheere booting home the game-clincher for the Red Hawks (13-3-3)

RICHLAND-GULL LAKE 3, PLAINWELL 2 (2OT, SO): A battle of two traditional powers featuring a pair of top five state-ranked teams in Division 2. What did you expect?

Second-ranked Gull Lake, which reached the state semifinals two years ago, outlasted fourth-ranked Plainwell, which has won four straight Wolverine Conference titles and reached the Final Four last season, squeaked out this thrilling 2-1 victory in this district semifinals classic matchup that featured the two full overtime periods and the ensuing shootout.

The Blue Devils (12-3-2) held a 4-3 edge on penalty kicks to prevail.

Gull Lake sophomore Bella Carr stopped two penalties in the shootout, including Plainwell’s second and fifth shooters.

Madelyn Smith, Taygan Corstange, Kyleigh Grant and Kenadie Schueman converted their PKs for the Blue Devils. Catilyn Ridgeway, Alyssa Weldon and Anna Schierbeek made the penalties for the Trojans.

Richland-Gull Lake will face 15th-ranked Otsego (15-4-1) for the district crown on Thursday at 6 p.m., also at Wayland.

Olivia Ranger stopped Gull Lake’s third shooter in the shootout for Plainwell (15-3-1).

TROY 5, ROYAL OAK 0: After a scoreless first half, Troy erupted for five goals in the final 33 minutes to prevail in this district semifinals match at Birmingham Seaholm. Sophomore Olivia Jasiewicz netted the natural hattrick by scoring three goals in under a nine-minute span and the Colts13-1-2) were able to break open a tight game. Janie Lennon and Brynn Zawislak also netted goals and Ava Fleming drew two assists in the win.

BIRMINGHAM MARIAN 8, AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE 0: Eighth-ranked Marian cruised to the district semifinals win Tuesday over Avondale. Clair Dauer recorded the hattrick to lead the way, while Giu Agrusso scored twice and Madeline Stenger, Bella Musachio and Dani Mertz also scored for the Mustangs. Nia Bordogna picked up three assists and Mertz and Charlie Bingham shared the shutout for Marian, which advanced to the district finals to face Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood.

BLOOMFIELD HILS CRANBROOK-KINGSWOOD 1, FARMINGTON HILLS MERCY 0: Less than two weeks after losing to Mercy in the CHSL-Bishop Tournament finals and being thoroughly-outplayed by the Marlins, the unranked Cranes got their sweet revenge during this district semifinal clash Tuesday.

AUBURN HILLS OAKLAND CHRISTIAN 9, BYRON 1: Ranked eighth in Division 4, Oakland Christian wasted no time in cruising to the district semifinal s win Tuesday in Auburn Hills. Val Santurtun led the way with three goals, while Morgan Kwapis and Leah Zarrilli both scored twice and Rowan Klein and Jessica Reyes added one goal apiece.

(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.)