Shot at redemption: Troy gains rematch with Novi, first state finals berth since 2003
GETTING PAST THE DEFENSE: Troy's Irene Young looks to slip past Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central's Tori Keller during Wednesday's Division 1 state semifinals. Young scored three goals in the Colts' 3-1 triumph. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
HOLT — For two years, Troy’s girls soccer team has been knocking on the door to the state finals.
In 2009, the Colts lost in the state semifinals to Utica Eisenhower, while Troy came up short in losing in the regional finals to eventual state champion Novi last season.
The Colts have not only earned a right to play in their first state final in eight years this time around, but will face the team that knocked them out last season, Novi.
Fourth-ranked Troy did its part Wednesday by eliminating seventh-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 3-1, in a rain-soaked semifinal at Holt High School.
Novi advanced with a 2-1 victory over unranked Grosse Pointe South.
Troy will play at 12 noon Saturday at Michigan State University against top-ranked Novi (21-0-2), which has won four of the past six D-1 state titles.
Troy won state crowns in 1994 and 2003 and is 2-2 all-time in state title games.
“We like the challenge (of playing Novi),” offered Troy coach Brian Zawislak, whose team gave up a counterattack goal to Novi in last year’s regional finals in a 1-0 loss. “We think that we stack up well against them. We’ll prepare the next two days to put up a good game plan against them.”
There are seven seniors and seven juniors in Troy’s program that have been along for two long postseason rides that will finally be playing in a state final after a pair of near misses.
“It feels amazing because every year we’re the team that goes home crying,” said senior sweeper Erin Farley, one of Troy’s tri-captains. “Now it’s my senior year. We just want to put it away now. We want to redeem ourselves now and we want (to play Novi). They say they’re undefeated, but we want to break that (perfect record). We did that to Lake Orion two years ago (in the regional semifinals).”
Part of Troy’s game plan this season has included junior forward Irene Young, who was one-player wrecking crew against FHC, scorching the net for all three of Troy’s goals. She scored her 28th and 29th goals of the season in the first half and added her 30th marker in the second half.
“We knew coming in that we would have to watch the elements,” said Young, who ranks among the leading goal scorers in Oakland County this season. “We had to try to play through (the rain). We were both playing on (real) grass and we’re both not used to it. With the weather, we noticed the ball skipped a lot.
“We tried to pressure the back line a lot and I think it worked,” continued Young. “It’s tough with the wet surface, but I think that’s how we got a lot of our opportunities.”
Young cashed in for the first goal with 21:04 left in the first half. She picked off an errant clearing attempt in the penalty box and laced shot into the goal from 10 yards in front, catching FHC goalkeeper Candace Cullens off guard.
Young made it 2-0 with 19:45 left in the half, as she slotted home a cross from sophomore Madison Hirsch.
Troy's Emily Dzik (No. 8) dribbles past Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central's Isabella Fiorenzo during Wednesday's clash. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
“We thought they would (try to) mark (Young) tight. We have all the faith in the world with Irene and her decision making on the ball and we know good things are going to happen when she has it,” said Zawislak. “We just wanted to put pressure on their back line. We were able to do that and capitalize on it twice (in the first 21 minutes).
Forest Hills Central, which is playing in D-1 for just its second season, was able to cut the deficit down to 2-1 with 11:02 left in the first half when senior midfielder Tori Keller caught Troy goalkeeper Alison Holland napping off her line and Keller’s shot from the corner of the box found the webbing inside the far post.
In the second half, Troy came out with plenty of pressure and upped the ante back up to two goals. Freshman Phylisha Dratyon cut the ball back inside and sent a rolling cross into the box to Young, who spun around and laced a left-footed shot that found the corner of the goal for a 3-1 lead which capped the scoring.
“We got one back and we had a couple of chances in the second half, but I thought their third goal is what deflated us,” offered Forest Hills Central Jeremy Stacy.
Stacy expected a handful from Young, one of the state’s better forwards.
THE CHASE: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central's Isabella Fiorenzo and Troy's Rachel Shamoun go after the loose ball during the first half of Wednesday's Division 1 state semifinal. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
She’s strong and finishes well. She was similar matchup we had (in the regional finals) with (Portage Central’s) Paige Webster. We played her very similar. We knew it was going to be this way. (Young) is very effective for them. She’s big and strong and she can finish. I thought we did a better job on her in the second half. But it was too much, too early and too little, too late.”
Troy held a 14-13 edge in shots, including 9-6 with shots directly on frame, and controlled play for long stretches of each half. Forest Hills Central had a flood of chances in the final 12 minutes of the first half and during the final 15 minutes of the game, but could not draw closer.
Holland, a sophomore, made five saves in goal for the win for Troy, which enters the state final only yielding nine goals all year, good for a 0.36 team goals against average. The Colts still have some unfinished business to attend to.
“We’re looking to redeem ourselves,” smiled Young.
Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy
