BOYS SOCCER: Eisenhower pulls upset of Rochester Stoney Creek; Avondale edges Brandon
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.Stickradt@northoakalandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
LAKE ORION — Utica Eisenhower made some defensive adjustments of the soccer pitch a few weeks ago. It is paying dividends in the postseason.
The unranked Eagles posted its third straight shutout Thursday and second straight in the postseason, posting a 2-0 upset of OAA Red Division champion Rochester Stoney Creek in a Division 1 district semifinal at Lake Orion.
The Eagles (12-7-5) will face Rochester Adams in the district title match at 12 p.m. Saturday at Lake Orion.
“Our defense has really stepped up,” said Eisenhower goalkeeper Marino Moraccini. “You have to give credit where credit is due. They made a difference.”
Moraccini fished with three saves on the night and gained some much needed aid for his stingy defense, including Michael Apone’s clear off the goal line with 24:15 left with his team leading 1-0, plus an array of clears by other defenders when the ball was in harm’s way.
“This win is huge,” said Moraccini said. “Nobody picked us to win this game. But we believed. Our defense played great.”
Eisenhower scored an insurance tally with 23:40 left. On the counter attack. Justin Schueneman broke free down the right side and lofted a pass to the far side to an onrushing Matt Ciaramitaro, who finished his chance for the two-goal cushion.
The Eagles first took advantage of a Stoney Creek miscue with 31:24 left in the first half. Following a restart just in front of the penalty box, which resulted in an ensuing cornerkick, Eisenhower grabbed the 1-0 lead when Ben Campbell scored on a goal-mouth scramble.
Stoney Creek had multiple chances on shots, restarts, throw-in into the box and crosses on the attack, yet came up empty-handed. The Cougars (15-6-1) outshot Eisenhower 12-9 in the contest, but only had three shots directly on frame. All nine of Ike’s shots were on goal, with Stoney Creek goalkeeper Jacob Cowdrey notching seven saves in the loss.
“We executed our game plan,” sighed Stoney Creek coach Adam Bican said. “We did everything right, we just couldn’t find the finish. We had so many chances. We just struggled to put the ball (on frame). We worked so hard, as we have all season. We just didn’t get the result that we wanted.”
Eisenhower will get a chance to face Rochester Adams in district play for the third year in a row.
“They knocked us lout the past two years, so we’re fortunate enough to get a chance to play them again,” said Eisenhower coach Josh VanHouten. “We did a nice job defensively in this game. We are hoping for the same result on Saturday. I;m sure it will be another a game.”
DIVISION 2
AUBURN HILLS AVONDALE 1, ORTONVILLE BRANDON 0: Stuart Russ scored the game’s only goal and Avondale advanced in the Division 2 district tournament with this district semifinals win over the Blackhawks.
Russ scored with 28 minutes left in the second half. Jake McCarthy netted the shutout for the Yellowjackets (5-12-4).
Avondale will face Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood in the district finals for the third year and will face the Cranes at 6 p.m. Friday at Avondale.
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