BOYS SOCCER: Midland Calvary defends MACS state title with clean sheet over Rochester Hills Christian
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
DAVISON — Midland Calvary Baptist to another took it to another level Saturday.
Second-seeded Midland Calvary Baptist, led by nine senior starters playing in their final high school boys high school soccer game, took control with two second-half goals and some lockdown defense in defeating top-seeded Rochester Hills Christian, 2-0, in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I state finals at Davison Faith Baptist High School.
It was the rematch of the 2018 MACS Division I state finals, where Rochester Hills Christian posted a 2-1 victory in a game that reached shootout. The Eagles prevailed 5-4 on penalties in that match and boasted a roster loaded with seniors.
“We have not played them since that game,” said Rochester Hills Christian coach Jerry Slota. “Two years ago we had a lot of seniors and we ended up winning. I remember they had some good young players on their team two years go.”
Rochester Hills Christian (11-2-0) believed it scored a goal in the 30th minute, but officials could not rule that the ball crossed the line and continued play. The contest finished in a 0-0 deadlock after 40 minutes.
“The referees were out of position, unfortunately, and didn’t know if it cross the line so they played on,” sighed Slota, whose squad featured nine sophomores, three juniors and only four seniors. “By the reaction of their goalie and the way we reacted, it was clearly over the line, but their goalie reached back and moved it out. Had that been called a goal perhaps this could have turned out differently.
“We played all right in the first half. I think they took it to us in the second half. They had (seven) seniors and I think (most of them) started,” continued Slota. “That makes a difference with all of that experience. They were the better team in the second half.”
Midland Calvary Baptist senior midfielder Toby Stauffer scored the eventual game-winner in the 50th minute, as he volleyball home a cross from senior forward Nathan Wiggins.
Senior midfielder Eric Grabill scored an unassisted goal in the 55th minute for the 2-0 advantage. Then the Kings’ defense took over, smothering any type of attack the Eagles could generate and halting any type of comeback plans.
Midland Calvary (11-5-0) posted a 18-5 margin with shots on frame in the game against Rochester Hills Christian, which had only one loss coming into the contest.
Senior Lucian Snyder stopped five shots for the clean sheet in the finals for Calvary Baptist. It marked the Kings’ third straight trip to the finals and second straight title.
Last year, Calvary Baptist defeated Waterford Oakdale Christian Academy, 3-0, for the crown.
“I’m still proud of my team for the type of season that we had,” said Slota. “We went 6-0 in our league (Wolverine Christian Conference Red Division)
Rochester Hills Christian junior Ethan Suciu recorded 16 saves in goal for the Eagles, who fell to 7-4 all-time in MACS state title games.
Midland Calvary Baptist, which lost in the district finals of the MHSAA Division 4 tournament back on Oct. 22, lost one of its players, Stephen Kipfmiller, to leukemia back in September.
Category: Featured Articles, High School (M-Z), Most Recently Updated Stories, NOS reference, Prep Wraps, Rochester Hills Christian, Soccer, Sport, Top Stories, Uncategorized
Calvary only had 5 seniors starting. They have 7 on the team.
Lucian Snyder, the goalie, is a sophomore.
Eric Grabill who scored the second goal is a junior.
The “almost” goal in the first half was stopped by the goalie with his back to the net and then he dropped it forward and it was cleared by the fullback. It never crossed the line.