GIRLS SOCCER: Adams blanks Grand Blanc to reach regional finals
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
LAKE ORION — There’s a lot to be said about experience in the state tournament.
Rochester Adams has plenty of such experience on the soccer pitch — and that experience has been a much-needed commodity for the injury-plagued Highlanders, who may have to change their nickname to the “Walking Wounded” before the season is complete.
Adams relied on a band of seniors, especially on the defensive end, to lead the way in the Highlanders’ 2-0 shutout of Grand Blanc in a Division 1 regional semifinal at Lake Orion High School in a game where five of the Highlanders’ starters were missing in action.
“It’s nice to have been here before. It’s not like this is a new experience for some of these girls,” said Adams coach Aaron Donaghy, whose team was playing in their fourth straight regional semifinal. “We needed it. We have (five) girls out right now. A couple should be back Friday for the regional finals. But three are out for the year. And we had three JV girls see a lot of minutes out there.”
Senior Kylie Nylen has been shifted back to anchor the defense and 6-foot senior Lexi Lewandowski has been sturdy in net all season. Behind seven saves by Lewandowski and a stingy defensive effort in front of her, Adams (17-4-3) kept Grand Blanc (13-7-3) off the scoreboard.
Adams has pitched 14 shutouts this season and yielded only 10 goals all season in 23 games.
“She’s very athletic, doesn’t play club (soccer) but she’s a three-sport varsity athlete who just gets it done,” said Donaghy of Lewandowski. “She came through for us with a couple of nice saves, a couple which were really big.”
Down 2-0, Grand Blanc consistently attacked the Highlanders’ net in the second half. The Bobcats’ best scoring opportunity came with 3:35 left, when Annie Walker was stopped cold on a breakaway by Lewandowski.
Grand Blanc’s Kara Huber also grazed a shot off the top of the crossbar for 21:21 left in the contest.
Lewandowski finished with seven saves for Adams, which had five regular starters out for the game. Seniors Merlin Beckwith, Lauren Boyle and Megan Ruedisueli have all suffered season-ending in the past month, including Boyle, who went down last week in a district game.
Donaghy expects Allison Reed and Rachel Wehbe to be available in Adams’ next contest.
Midland Dow defeated Walled Lake Western in the first semifinal Tuesday, 3-0, and will hook up with Adams for a 6:30 p.m. date Friday, also at Lake Orion. The Highlanders are going after their ninth regional title and trip to the state semifinals, which would be their second in three years.
Even out of rhythm with a patchwork offense, Adams carried play through stretches of the first half.
Sophomore Tiffany Bucker’s strike with 19:47 left in the first half proved to the game-winner. Buckler’s direct free kick from 35 yards out floated high and just underneath the crossbar for the 1-0 lead.
The Highlanders struck again with 6:47 left in the half, this time with senior Mackenzie Barber scoring on a breakaway. Junior Lara Laderosa’s perfectly slotted ball through traffic was calmly collected by Barber, who went in on the Bobcats’ net all alone cashed in for the insurance tally.
Grand Blanc held a 9-7 shots advantage in the contest, including 7-6 with shots directly on goal, but could never break the Highlanders’ magic seal around the net.
It marked the second time in three years that Grand Blanc was ousted by Adams at the regional level. Two years ago, Adams defeated the Bobcats in the regional finals.
“We had enough chances where we were putting some pressure on them,” said Grand Blanc Greg Kehler. “But they stood firm and they stood tall on the back. Their goalkeeper made some great plays. Hats off to them. They’re a great team and that’s why they’re here. They are always a good team.”
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To report varsity results, e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com or dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
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(Jake Lourim is a junior at Troy High School and part of the AdaVan Media Group’s Student correspondence Program.He can be reached by email at j.lourim@comcast.net)
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(Garrett Smith is part of the AdaVan Media Group-NorthOaklandSports.com’s Student Correspondence Program and a student at Oakland University. For information to be a student writer, e-mail Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or Marketing Manager Dennis VanWingerden at dennis@northoaklandsports.com)
(R.J. Rolak is a free-lance correspondent and can be reached via e-mail at gourmetsports@yahoo.com.To reach the editorial department at www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com or Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com)
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