Big MACS attack: Troy Bethany Christian wins first MACS state title since 1986

Celebrate good times: Troy Bethany Christian sophomore forward Noah Francis is greeted by Ryan Woodham (No. 17) and Travis Woodham after scoring a goal in the Bruins' 2-0 shutout of Davison Faith Baptist in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I state finals. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

CLARKSTON — Travis Woodham’s 37^th and final goal of his senior season is his biggest.

Not only did the center midfielder tie the single-season school record, but it proved to be the game-winner Saturday in Troy Bethany Christian’s 2-0 victory over Davison Faith Baptist at Clarkston Springfield Christian.

The goal also helped the top-ranked Bruins capture their first Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I boys soccer state championship since 1986 and the school’s first state championship in boys sports since the baseball team won a MACS crown in 2000.

Bethany Christian coach Phil Fougere felt that his team leader responded well on the game-winner, adhering to some much-advised technique by shooting to the far post. Woodham took a cross from sophomore Noah Francis, split two defenders at the top of the box and laced a shot inside the left post, cutting the ball on an angle through the crease.

“Every time (we shoot), it’s opposite side. It goes through my head. Sometimes, I miss those,” said Woodham. “I try to do my best, far post every time.”

The Bruins ended a long streak that began far before any of the current Bethany Christian players were born.

“It’s the best feeling ever,” said Woodham, who finished the year with 37 goals and 20 assists and the association’s top player for 2010. “First of all, glory to God because he’s the one that got us here. We’ve had a bunch of hard work, intensity. We played well as a team possession-wise. When we play as a team, we can beat teams in all of the MACS and we proved that today.”

Bethany Christian, which finished 19-2-1, good for a school record for wins, scored a goal in each half to prevail. It was the third time this season the Bruins had defeated Davison Faith, last season’s state champ which has reached the state title game 11 times in 15 years.

The Eagles (9-7-2) could not find the firepower to ignite much of an attack. Bethany Christian outshot Faith Baptist by a commanding 26-8 margin, including 11-6 with shots on frame.

The Bruins finally put the game way with 5:40 to play.

Travis Woodham fed Ryan Woodham in the corner, with the younger Woodham sending a low cross into the penalty box. Francis made a nice individual move in the box, flicking home the cross with his heel and leaving Faith Baptist goalkeeper Austin Brantley no chance on the redirect.

Ajay Solomon made six saves to record his 10^th shutout of the season, another single-season school record. John Gronow and the rest of the Bruins’ defense were stellar on the day, according to Fougere, forcing Faith Baptist to take shots from outside of the penalty box.

“We set many school records this season,” noted Fougere. “We got great leadership from our (six) seniors. Travis Wodham and John Gronow really stepped it up this season as captains.

“I didn’t even know we won it in ’85. I know it’s a long time,” smiled Fougere. “It’s only the (third) time we’ve been in the championship (game). It’s an amazing year. With the disappointment of last year’s semifinals shootout (loss to Temperance Stateline Christian), they have focused on it, even playing other sports. They talked about it all year.”

The final 20 minutes were intense, as the Bruins held its one-goal advantage but the Eagles threw together a couple of counterattacks to try to net the equalizer. The Eagles even had a pair of free kicks from just outside of the penalty box, but one shot sailed wide left and the other was snagged by Solomon.

“We had to do that to keep playing our game,” said Woodham. “We knew we were ahead, so all we had to do was stop them. But we still had press forward, keep the pressure on them. We did that today.”

Faith Baptist lost 2-0 and 2-1 in overtime to Troy Bethany in the regular season and was hoping to find a way to change that pattern in the state finals.

“We were hoping that. But they were consistent,” said Faith Baptist coach Mike Knakal, who played on the Eagles’ 1999 state championship team. “They are just a good team. We couldn’t beat them this year.”

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Category: Clarkston Springfield Christian, Lake Orion Baptist, Lake Orion Shalom Baptist, Prep Wraps, Rochester Hills Christian, Troy Bethany Christian, Troy Christian Leadership Acadamy