Lonely at the top? Novi tops Troy to win fifth D-1 crown in seven years
JUMPING FOR FIVE: Novi celebrated its fifth Division 1 state title in seven years Saturday at Michigan State's DeMartin Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Troy. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
EAST LANSING — For Novi, could it ever be lonely at the top?
The Wildcats, the state’s top-ranked girls soccer team all season, posted yet another Division 1 state championship Saturday at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium.
Novi won its second straight state title and fifth in seven seasons by topping Troy, 1-0, to finish the year unbeaten (22-0-2) and maintain its status as the No.1-rated team in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Novi, which has four Division I college-bound players departing with back-to-back crowns, slowed one of the most potent offenses in Division 1 to keeps it reign.
“It never gets lonely,” smiled Brian O’Leary, Novi’s coach for all five state title runs and 11 seasons overall. “My coaches and I were walking around here and saying that it never gets old.”
The Wildcats opened the year ranked No. 1 and exits the season in the same position.
“We try to do things the right way,” offered O’Leary. “We play as a team and the girls can see the rewards of doing things the right way. Every year is a surprise. I see how weak we are at the beginning of the season and how far we have to go. These girls are very coachable and you can see where we are now.
UP IN THE AIR: Troy's Jenn Busk wins this header during Saturday's Division 1 state championship game at Michigan State's DeMartin Stadium. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
“We’ve been blessed with so many good players,” added O’Leary. “But we’ve been able to (win state titles) as we do everything as a team.”
The results speak for themselves, as the Wildcats become the first program in Class A/Division1 to win five titles in a seven-year period. Only Livonia Stevenson has won as many state titles(five) in the highest division since the MHSAA adopted girls soccer in 1983.
“It’s amazing. These girls worked so hard to get here. Every run we did, every drill … so many minutes into this,” said Novi senior goalkeeper Gabby Gauruder, who was also the winning goalkeeper in the 2010 title clincher against Plymouth. “I’m so proud of this team to be able to win again. Troy did great. It was close, so that makes it more special.”
Both teams traded off chances in the first half, but it was top-ranked Novi that cashed in the first paycheck. Junior Katie Rudzinski broke free near the corner of the box and her low cross was redirected just inside the far post by senior Nikki Greenhalgh with 21:44 left in the first half.
THE AGONY OF DEFEAT: Troy's Madison Hirsch and her teammates were numb following a 1-0 loss to top-ranked Novi in Saturday's Division 1 state title bout. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
Gauruder, who is headed to Michigan State in the fall, made six saves for the Wildcats’ 15th shutout of the season — six shutouts in the seven postseason games.
“It was a perfect cross and I was able to get a foot on it,” said Greenhalgh.
Sophomore Alison Holland finished with four saves for Troy. The Colts gave up 10 goals all season.
Novi had a grand chance to take a two-goal lead with 24:25 to play when Greenhalgh laced a shot from outside of the box that banged off the crossbar and down but not over the goal line.
Troy outshot Novi 10-9 in the contest, including 6-5 with shots on frame. Novi defeated Troy 1-0 in last year’s D-1 regional finals, despite Troy holding a 10-5 shots advantage and 7-1 in the second half.
The Colts simply are snake bit when it comes to finishing against the Wildcats. Troy had ample restarts off fouls, picking up 16 free kicks and four cornerkicks in the contest but Troy was still shut out for just the second time this season.
Troy pressured the final 15 minutes of the contest, forcing the Wildcats to send 10 players back into a defensive shell. The fourth-ranked Colts (20-3-2) couldn’t solve the Wildcats’ defense.
“We talked about it halftime how we were going to adjust if we were down a goal late,” said Troy coach Brian Zawislak, whose program was making its first appearance in the state finals since 2003. “We kept some constant pressure. They’re goalie made two or three tremendous saves that most goalies don’t mark. She played well. We just couldn’t put one past her.
“I liked the way my girls played,” continued Zawislak. “We created some chances but Gabby came up big for them.”
Novi gave up just one goal in the postseason and outscored the opposition 97-12 this season overall, yielding only five goals in its final 10 games.
“Our defense is so amazing,” said Gauruder. “We play so tight and they don’t give (teams) much time to get any great (scoring chances).”
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy
