GIRLS SOCCER: Return offender: WOLL gains third Final Four trip in four years
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BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
MADISON HEIGHTS — Some programs and athletes can only dream of ever making it to the Final Four, enjoying a magical ride through the postseason. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes-Clarkston Everest Collegiate Unified’s girls soccer team is starting to make such a journey a habit and our living that dream once again.
The Lakers, who are in their seventh season, are making their third trip to the Final Four in their brief history, courtesy of capturing their third regional championship in four years with a 4-1 victory Friday over Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett Friday at Madison Heights Bishop Foley Catholic.
The winning attitude is all around the program, as several members have been part of the school’s girls basketball team that finished as the Class D state runner-up in 2013 and won consecutive state championships from 2010-2012.
The Lakers (21-0-0), the top-ranked team in Division 4 who finished as the state runner-up last season, advanced to the state semifinals next Wednesday at Troy Athens against Lansing Christian.
“A lot of them come from our basketball program as well, and (the seniors) bring a lot of leadership and will to win,” offered second-year Lakes-Everest coach Katie Hearn. “I think it goes back to basketball. They were so mad at their loss (to St. Ignace in the Class D finals in March) that they are ready to win again. We went to the state finals last year (in soccer) and it’s our goal to get back there again.”
With seven final fours between basketball and soccer in a four-year span, the leadership and experience helped separate the Lakers from Liggett on Friday.
Junior midfielder Anna Robb scored three goals for Lakes, which led 2-0 at the half and held a 4-0 advantage with less than 10 minutes left in game. Senior midfielder Jessica Parry scored the other goal for Our Lady of the Lakes.
Lakes was blanked by Grandville Calvin Christian 6-0 in last year’s D-4 title match. The Lakers have not lost since that game and are quite used to winning.
“I definitely think it’s a mindset we have. Going in there I don’t want to say that don’t expect to get there but we know we can get there,” said Robb, who notched yet another hat trick. “That is what we work for.”
Robb put the Lakers in the lead for good with 19:56 left in the first half, when she headed home a long serve from the corner by freshman Alex Troy, who corralled a high ball in the corner and sent the cross into the penalty box.
Parry made it 2-0 with 12:56 left in the opening half when she intercepted a clearing pass and drilled in a shot from 18 yards out in front of the goal.
WOLL nearly made it 3-0 with 10 minutes to go in the half, but a goal was called back due to an offsides call.
In the second half, Robb deposited a pair of breakaway goals, the first off a long feed from Parry with 37:47 remaining in the game, which seemed to deflate the Knights’ chances of a comeback. The second breakaway goal came from freshman Allison Maiorana’s feed with 6:07 left.
University-Liggett (14-5-1) nearly trimmed the deficit down to one goal with 6:59 left in the first half, when Carina Ghafari rang a shot off the crossbar.
“If that goes in, that (cuts) their lead for us and it may put a little doubts in their minds,” said Liggett coach David Dwaihy. “I think when (Lakes) got their third goal it gave them some relief. We could have gone into half and had a chance to regroup. That’s soccer. You don’t always get those bounces.”
Freshman Eleanor Withers spoiled the shutout with 5:02 left when she volleyed in a free kick from senior Ariana Castillo. WOLL outshot Liggett 13-8, including 8-4 with shots on frame.
Megan Luttinen made three saves for the win for the Lakers, which also created five cornerkicks.
WOLL-CEC GIRLS SOCCER IN DIVISION 4 POSTSEASON:
2013: Still playing; final four.
2012: Lost in state championship match to Grandville Calvin Christian (6-0).
2011: Lost in regional finals to Saginaw Nouvel Catholic (3-0).
2010: Won state championship, defeating Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central (2-1).
2009: Lost in regional semifinals to Madison Heights Bishop Foley (2-1, OT).
2008: Lost in regional semifinals to Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port-Laker (3-0).
2007: Lost in districts.
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FOR MORE SOCCER COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=soccer&x=0&y=0
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.
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