BOYS SOCCER PICKS: Regional games should produce its fair share of golden moments, overtimes, shootouts
Competed over a 10-day period, the district rounds of the MHSAA boys soccer tournament are finally complete.
There were only a couple of major upsets — Orchard Lake St. Mary’s topping Linden in the pre-districts in Division 2 was probably the biggest — and many of the teams that advanced through would be considered top 20 programs in their respective divisions.
That should make for some very competitive regional semifinals and regional finals clashes this week.
Let’s dive in and take a look at this week’s regional contests and see who might be around for the Final Four.
DIVISION 1
WALLED LAKE CENTRAL (9-3-2) VS. NEW BALTIMORE ANCHOR BAY (10-0-0): Anchor Bay has lost only one game in two seasons, and that was in last year’s district finals to Clinton Township Chippewa Valley in overtime. This game will be close, but the undefeated Tars have their best side in school history and will live another day.
PICK: New Baltimore Anchor Bay 2, Walled Lake Central 1
UTICA EISENHOWER (8-1-4) VS. TROY ATHENS (12-2-3): The regional hosts are the defending state champions and seem to have an element lacking at many other Division 1 programs — pure goal scorers. Ike has one of the state’s top goalkeepers and is a very talented team in its own right.
PICK: Troy Athens 2-0
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Troy Athens 3, New Baltimore Anchor Bay 2 (OT).
TRAVERSE CITY WEST (19-1-2) VS. OKEMOS (5-2-4): This is a rematch of last year’s regional finals, where West scored the 1-0 upset. The Titans lost in the state finals to Troy Athens last year and to Warren DeLaSalle in a pre-season tournament game up north — and West has not lost since. In fact, the Titans have been beating teams by high margins.
PICK: Traverse City West 3, Okemos 1
HOLT (8-1-2) VS. MUSKEGON MONA SHORES (13-3-1): This is an intriguing matchup because Holt has been a very good team the last 3-4 years and has Zach Kelly on its side. Mona Shores boasts the underrated Jaxton Carpenter and is having its best-ever season.
PICK: Holt 2, Muskegon Mona Shores 1 (OT)
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Traverse City West 3, Holt 1
PLYMOUTH SALEM (!3-2-1) VS. MATTAWAN (12-1-1): Both of these teams reached the Final Four last season, Salem in D-1 and Mattawan in D-2. Both have enough talent to advance and this could be the state’s top D-1 regional semifinal if not the whole state. Both teams are also good enough to win it all. Overtime might be needed here.
PICK: Mattawan 2, Salem 1 (OT)
SALINE (14-1-1) VS. DEARBORN EDSEL FORD (10-3-1): Edsel Ford would be considered the only minor upset winner in the districts, as it defeated both Dearborn and Woodhaven last week. Saline won one of the most difficult districts with the likes of Dexter, Ann Arbor Pioneer and Ann Arbor Skyline.
PICK: Saline 4, Dearborn Edsel Ford 1
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Mattawan 2, Saline 1
WARREN DELASALLE (15-2-3) VS. NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL (9-0-3): Two of the D-1 heavyweights meet up again for the third time. CC won one of the state’s deepest districts and is undefeated at this time. With Warren Cousino withdrawing from the tournament, DeLaSalle won the easiest district in D-1 and D-2 combined.
PICK: Novi Detroit Catholic Central 3, Warren DeLaSalle 1
BERKLEY (10-3-4) VS. GROSSE PONTE SOUTH (8-5-1): After the performance that Jacob Schleicher put on in the 5-4 district finals win over previously-unbeaten Livonia Stevenson, it’s hard to pick against the proven Bears, who hail from the OAA Red Division.
PICK: Berkley 3, Grosse Pointe South 0
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Novi Detroit Catholic Central 2, Berkley 1 (OT)
DIVISION 2
IMLAY CITY (12-1-0) VS. ST. CLAIR (7-3-4): Imlay City bumps up to D-2 this season after fielding a very competitive side the last several years in D-3. St. Clair finally won its first district last week.
PICK: Imlay City 2, St. Clair 0
ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARY’S (7-5-0) VS. BLOOMFIELD HILLS CRANBROOK (8-1-0): St. Mary’s was the surprise winner of its deep district last week. Its reward? Playing a state powerhouse program from its own CHSL conference.
PICK: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook 3, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 1
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook 3, Imlay City 2
DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD (9-4-2) VS. DEWITT (10-4-2): Divine Child reached the state title game four years ago and is always in the hunt to get this far. DeWitt might have its best team to date and some highly-touted players in its lineup.
PICK: DeWitt 3, Dearborn Divine Child 1
CHELSEA (13-4-0) VS. RIVERVIEW (18-1-0): Chelsea is a program on the rise with a nice senior class. Riverview is the state’s most pleasant surprise and is enjoying a storybook season — one that will continue after this game.
PICK: Riverview 2, Chelsea 1
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: DeWitt 3, Riverview 2
MARSHALL (11-1-0) VS. ST. JOSEPH (13-3-1): Marshall is having another quality season, although its roster is somewhat young. St. Joseph might have its best team since the 1990s.
PICK: St. Joseph 3, Marshall 1
RICHLAND GULL-LAKE (12-2-1) VS. HOLLAND (15-1-0): There are three schools in this region who could be playing on the season’s final day — St. Joseph, Gull Lake and Holland — and this is the top D-2 regional semifinal matchup in the state. Could be a ton of goals scored in this one.
PICK: Richland-Gull Lake 4, Holland 3 (OT)
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Richland-Gull Lake 2, St. Joseph 1 (OT)
PETOSKEY (12-5-2) VS. EAST GRAND RAPIDS (13-3-0): After a couple of down years, Petoskey is trying to recapture its powerhouse status. East Grand Rapids was hurt last year by two major MLS Academy defections but has regrouped this time with one of its best seasons in years.
PICK: East Grand Rapids 2, Petoskey 1
SPRING LAKE (10-1-4) VS. GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS EASTERN (7-5-3): This may be Spring Lake’s best team since finishing as the state runner-up in 2011.
PICK: Spring Lake 2, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern 0
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: East Grand Rapids 2, Spring Lake 1 (SO):
DIVISION 3
MACOMB LUTHERAN NORTH (6-4-0) VS. ALMA (10-4-2): Despite only playing 10 games to date, Lutheran North has enough talent on its roster to reach the Final Four. Alma wasn’t picked to win its district but has faired quite well this year.
PICK: Macomb Lutheran North 3, Alma 0
WILLIAMSTON (10-6-0) VS. FRANKENMUTH (12-2-3): The always-tough Williamston will play up-and-coming Frankenmuth, which is enjoying one if its better seasons. Smell overtime anyone?
PICK: Frankenmuth 3, Williamston 2 (OT)
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Macomb Lutheran North 3, Frankenmuth 2
CLAWSON (7-6-5) VS. CLINTON (10-5-2): Clawson is another team back on the rise and has been to the regional round several times in its program history. Meanwhile Clinton is a program that finished 1-14-1 three years ago but improved enough since then to win its first district.
PICK: Clawson 5, Clinton 2
GROSSE ILE (16-1-1) VS. ANN ARBOR GABRIEL RICHARD (10-1-2): Grosse Ile may be a bit younger than its team that was the state runner-up in 2018 and state champs in 2019, but the Red Devils do what great programs always do — reload. Gabriel Richard has risen up the charts in recent seasons, but don’t have the firepower to match up here.
PICK: Grosse Ile 4, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 1
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Grosse Ile 5, Clawson 2
HILLSDALE (11-3-1) VS. DOWAGIAC) (12-2-1): Dowagiac is making its third straight appearance in the regionals and has plenty of experience. Hillsdale is enjoying the limelight like never before. Experience wins here.
PICK: Dowagiac 2, Hillsdale 1
GRAND RAPIDS SOUTH CHRISTIAN (15-0-1) VS. GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL (8-3-2): South’s last loss came in a shootout last year against Grosse Ile in the D-3 finals. Expect this team to at least make it back to the state semifinals. CC won it all four years ago but has not been at that level since that campaign.
PICK: Grand Rapids South Christian 2, Grand Rapids Catholic Central 0
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Grand Rapids South Christian 3, Dowagiac 1
ELK RAPIDS (17-2-4) VS. WEST BRANCH OGEMAW HEIGHTS (18-1-2): Elk Rapids has talent of a Division 2 school and also has the talent to reach the final day of the season. Ogemaw Heights has built its program up in recent seasons and is having its best-ever campaign.
PICK: Elk Rapids 3, West Branch Ogemaw Heights 1
SHELBY (7-3-2) VS. MUSKEGON OAKRIDGE (8-2-3): Congrats on Shelby winning its first district. Oakridge has done the same with its trophy. Who will be a first-time member of the Elite Eight?
PICK: Muskegon Oakridge 2, Shelby 1 (OT)
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Elk Rapids 5, Muskegon Oakridge 1
DIVISION 4
CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE (8-5-2) VS. RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD (6-4-1): Everest Collegiate made a run to the Final Four last season and still has most of its offensive firepower in uniform. Gabriel Richard is back in the regionals for the first time since the early 2000s.
PICK: Clarkston Everest Collegiate 5, Riverview Gabriel Richard 2
GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY-LIGGETT (11-1-1) VS. ROYAL OAK SHRINE CATHOLIC (10-0-3): Liggett was the D-4 state runner-up last season and returns most if its team. Shrine has not lost yet this season. Expect plenty of fireworks in this one.
PICK: Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett 4, Royal Oak Shrine 2
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett 4, Clarkston Everest Collegiate 1
ADRIAN LENAWEE CHRISTIAN (12-2-1) VS. KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN (12-3-0): Lenawee is making its third straight regionals appearance and is enjoying another fine season.
PICK: Adrian Lenawee Christian 2, Kalamazoo Christian 1
HILLSDALE ACADEMY (9-5-0) VS. BRIGHTON CHARYL STOCKWELL ACADEMY (11-1-0): Hillsdale Academy joins city neighbor Hillsdale (D-3) in the regionals this season, the first time since 2017 for the Colts. Charyl Stockwell has only been around for a few years and is chartering pioneer territory for the school.
PICK: Hillsdale Academy, 3, Brighton Charyl Stockwell Academy
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Adrian Lenawee Christian 2, Hillsdale Academy 1
GRANDVILLE CALVIN CHRISTIAN (16-0-2) VS. ST. JOSEPH MICHIGAN LUTHERAN (6-5-1): Unbeaten and cruising, will anyone challenge Calvin Christian until the Final Four?
PICK: Grandville Calvin Christian 5, St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 1
BANGOR (8-3-2) VS. MARCELLUS HOWARDSVILLE CHRISTIAN (11-0-2: Howardsville Christian has been here before in recent years and is unbeaten. This is the first-ever regional appearance for the small town of Bangor.
PICK: Marcellus Howardsville Christian 3, Bangor 0
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Grandville Calvin Christian 4, Marcellus Howardsville Christian 1
ROSCOMMON (12-6-1) VS. BAD AXE (14-1-1): Roscommon once reached the D-3 state finals, but that was 14 years ago. Bad Axe might be the Thumb Area’s first legitimate team that could reach the semifinals and perhaps play on the final day.
PICK: Bad Axe 3, Roscommon 1
LELAND (13-4-2) VS. MUSKEGON WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN (11-5-1): This is a matchup of the last two D-4 state champions. Leland won in 2018 and still has several holdover players from that team. WMC graduated nine starters from the 2019 title team but still won a district with several first-year players.
PICK: Leland 2, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 0
REGIONAL FINALS PICK: Bad Axe 2, Leland 1 (OT)
(Dan Stickradt is a multi-media journalist of 27 years in Michigan and publisher and senior editor of S.M.G. and www.northoaklandsports.com. He can be reached via email at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Follow on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and on multiple other social media platforms.)
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