GIRLS SOCCER: Adams bumps off No. 3 Stoney Creek
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester Adams proved once again that it has Rochester Stoney Creek’s number in the postseason.
The Highlanders, who recently fell from the Division 1 state rankings, opened up the girls soccer postseason Tuesday night with one of the state’s bigger upsets, shocking the third-ranked and OAA Red Division champion Cougars, 2-1, in a pre-district contest.
The win came after Stoney Creek (16-2-0) had defeated Adams twice in the regular season — both by 2-1 counts. Adams has now knocked Stoney Creek out of the postseason three straight times.
“We knew they are an amazing team, so we had to go out-will them in order to have a chance,” offered Adams coach Aaron Donaghy, whose squad reached the Final Four last season. “We graduated 12 players and we knew the season would start out slow for us. But we knew we just had to out-work teams. Soccer is a game of inches, and to beat a team like (Stoney Creek), you really need to out-will them.”
“We knew we had to build for this game,” continued Donaghy. “We didn’t know that we would draw them first, but we knew that we’d have to play them at some point. We said, ‘let’s take them now’. We were able to do that.”
Adams (11-5-2) scored the first two goals in the second half and held off Stoney Creek down the stretch.
It was a pair of freshman that sparked the Highlanders in the second half.
ALL TANGLED UP: Rochester Adams’ Ryenn McAdory (left) and Rochester Stoney Creek’s Allison Markaity fioght for possession during Tuesday’s district contest. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com, lmckeephotographjy@comcast.net
Meghan Emke scored the first goal to shift momentum Adams’ way, while Oliva Argeros was sterling between the pipes, frustrating the Cougars with seven saves.
It was Emke who put Adams on top when she chased down a rebound and pounced on the loose ball before depositing in her shot from close range with 16:48 to play. Junior Jenny Rosonke’s slow shot was deflected in front of the net and Enke’s instincts paid off.
Taking some advice from her coach paid proved to pay dividends for Emke.
“It was slippery out there because of the rain,” smiled Emke said. “Coach (Donaghy) was telling us to make sure we’re following our shots. I followed the shot and was right there to score.”
Following a steal, senior Allison Reed dribbled in untouched and unleashed a low shot from 25 yards out that gave Adams a 2-0 cushion with 6:37 left in the contest. Argeros and the Highlanders staved off Stoney Creek’s comeback bid down the stretch.
Stoney Creek did notch a goal with 5:35 remaining, when freshman Taylor Paradoski broke loose down the right side and ripped a bending cross over to sophomore Maria Zandi, who one-timed a volley into the back of the net from 10 yards out. The Cougars could not net the equalizer.
Playing Adams several times a year and beginning somewhat flat hurt the Cougars, who won their first OAA-Red crown this season.
“I think a little bit of both,” sighed Stoney Creek coach Bryan Mittelstadt. “Adams is a senior-laden team. They came out and played with so much intensity. They have players that have been here before, a lot of experience (from their Final Four team from last season).”
Stoney Creek outshot Adams 10-9, including 8-3 with shots directly on frame.
Adams will face fifth-ranked Utica Eisenhower at 5 p.m. Thursday in the district semifinals at Rochester.
To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.
FOR MORE SOCCER COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=soccer&x=0&y=
Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com.
Category: Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Most Recently Updated Stories, Prep Wraps, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Soccer, Sport
