Six soccer teams still alive in hunt for state crowns
Six local teams are still alive in the boys soccer state tournament and hope to continue their run towards a state championship this week.
Troy, which is in the regionals for the fourth time in five years, will take on Midland Dow at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lake Orion in a Division 1 regional semifinal. Walled Lake Northern and Grand Blanc play in the first game at 5 p.m.
Troy lost in 2008 and 2010 to Grand Blanc in the regional finals and has not escaped the regionals since 2003, when the Colts captured the D-1 state title.
MOVING FORWARD: Troy Athens' senior defender Alex Valencia and the Red Hawks are one of six local teams still alive in the postseason. File Photo | Dan Stickradt
Troy Athens, under first-year head coach Todd Heugh, is making its second appearance in the regional round in three years and is two wins away from their first Final Four since back-to-back appearances in 1997 and 1998. The Red Hawks will have a brutal path if they are to advance into next week.
Athens will take on Livonia Stevenson at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Sterling Heights Stevenson. Top-ranked Warren DeLaSalle will take on Utica Eisenhower in the other regional semifinal game, as the regional features four traditional powerhouse teams. The regional finals are set for 12 noon Saturday.
In Division 2, Auburn Hills Avondale is making its second appearance in the regional in five years and fourth overall under coach Dave Muczynski, who is in his 18th season. The Yellowjackets cleared the hump after losing in the district finals five times in the past eight years. The last regional appearance came in 2007, when the Yellowjackets advance to the regional finals only to lose in a shootout to East Lansing.
Avondale will travel to Fenton for a 7 p.m. clash against Mt. Pleasant Tuesday. Fourth-ranked and unbeaten Lapeer East faces Clio in the first game at 5 p.m.
In D-4, eighth-ranked Auburn Hills Oakland Christian will host first-time district champion Marlette at 4 p.m. Tuesday. On the other half the bracket, Lansing Christian faces fifth-ranked Saginaw Valley Lutheran on Wednesday, also at Oakland Christian.
A potential regional final of top-10 teams could take place at 11 a.m. Saturday if both Oakland Christian and Valley Lutheran both advance.
Over in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I state tournament, both Troy Bethany Christian and Rochester Hills Christian are in the state semifinals.
Troy Bethany, the top-ranked team in MACS-I, is the defending state champion. The Bruins will face Davison Faith Baptist in the semis at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Rochester Hills Christian in a rematch of last year’s state title match. The game serves as the South Regional finals.
The other half of the bracket sees upstart Rochester Hills Christian making its third trip to the semis in six years. The Eagles will go on the road to Clarkston Springfield Christian Tuesday for their North Regional finals match against No. 2 Vassar Juniata Christian. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
Rochester Hills Christian has not a state title since winning four straight from 1989-92.
The state title game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Springfield Christian.
— Dan Stickradt
Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester Hills Christian, State Rankings, Troy, Troy Athens, Troy Bethany Christian
