BOYS SOCCER: Rochester Adams, Plymouth Canton are mirror images of one another entering state championship match
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
Dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
BRIGHTON — If Rochester Adams’ and Plymouth Canton’s boys soccer players could collectively stare down at each other for a moment, it would be like looking into a mirror.
The perennial state powers have survived brutal paths to get to the season’s final day and will meet for the state championship at 12 p.m. Saturday at Brighton High School. They appear to be splitting images of one another.
“I think we are a lot of like,” offered sixth-year Adams coachJosh Hickey. “We play a lot alike. We’re both deep and play a lot of kids.”
Canton, ranked second and the KLAA tournament champion, is going after its second crown in four years and third overall, winning titles in both 1994 (Class A) and 2011 (D-1). Adams is trying to win its first state title since 1999 (D-1) and is making its third appearance in the title match, also losing in the finals in 2001 (D-1).
The Highlanders also came close two other times, losing in overtime in the 2009 state semifinals, while they also reached the Final Four in 2004. Both of those years Adams was knocked out by the eventual state champion.
Both teams have won two postseason games via shootouts this year, and both escaped arguably the toughest two districts in Division 1. Canton is 8-0-2 in its last 10 games, while Adams is
“We’ve had some good teams over the years — no doubt,” said Hickey, “What I like about this team is that never gives up. We might not have a lot of superstars, but they play for one another.”
Mark Zemanski, who is in his second year as head coach at Canton after serving as an assistant to George Tomasso for eight years, leads a talented squad into the finals.
“We have played a lot of tough games. We’ve won four games by shootout this season,” noted Zemanski, whose squad carries an impressive unbeaten mark of 23-0-3 into the title bout. “We find ways to win.”
In some games, Canton simply unleashes a vaunted offensive attack on opponents, as its 94-13 scoring edge in 26 games indicates. Other times the Chiefs display their stingy defense coupled with superb goaltending, as they have pitched 15 shutouts this season, including a 2-0 blanking of Saline in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Canton also has exceptional depth between the pipes, as three quality goalkeepers have split time in goal.
“The amazing thing is that they do not play a (high level of) club soccer,” said Zemanski of his goalies trio. “One is a lacrosse player, one has played in our program the past couple of years, while the other just came out this season. But all they are all just great athletes . They give us three guys that we can trust to go out there and do a great job. All three have made saves in shootouts this year.”
Jack Zemanski, the coach’s son, is a possible All-State Dream Team player, leading the charge with five goals and 17 assists. The Chiefs counter with four players with double digits in goals.
Carter Schenk has 14 goals despite missing nearly half of the campaign with injuries. Hunter Olson has 15 goals and nine assists, Matthew Causley (12 goals, five assists) and Sam Delot (12 goals, two assists) have all found the back of the net with regularity this fall. Jimmy Walkinshaw has added five goals and 13 assists.
Andrew Lehnis, who played in the semifinals, has shared the goalkeeping duties with Dylon Dasilva and Jay Krebs. All have posted goals-against-averages of under one goal a game, while registering save percentages over .800. Sam Belcher is a lockdown defender in the back.
Ironically, the two met on a Saturday in early October, battling to a 1-1 draw. This time the stakes are much bigger
“The last time we played them we played a lot of guys, but I think we both played to win. It was a really good game,” said Hickey. “I think depth is a big part of our success. If I remember correctly, Canton played a lot of guys, too, in that game. I think this could be a great game. We are a lot alike.”
Adams hails from the OAA Red Division, finishing second by a point behind Rochester Stoney Creek. The Highlanders, who started the season 1-1-4, are currently 12-4-7 overall, thanks to its brutally tough schedule — a schedule which Hickey calls “very tough.”
“It was the toughest schedule since I’ve been here,” he said. “I think we counted 13 games against state ranked teams or teams that were honorable mention in the rankings.”
Adams has cemented a spot in the final top 10 rankings, that will be released Tuesday, along with the All-State squads in the state’s four divisions.
The Highlanders, who have won at least a district crown in nine of the past 16 seasons, has been led by senior Dream Team candidate Kevin Lencioni, who has 18 goals and six assists and scored the game-winner in a shootout Wednesday in a 3-2 win over unbeaten and third-ranked Fraser in the state semifinals.
Lennart Zorn has 15 goals and eight assists, Dylan Brown has been stellar between the pipes the second half of the season, freshman Alex Kim has played beyond his years, and Vinnie Demarco and Matthew Lencioni have also stood out in recent weeks.
Adams is playing its best soccer down the stretch.
“There’s nothing we haven’t seen,” said Hickey. “We are peaking at the right time.”
So is Canton winning three of its last eight games via shootout, and outscoring its last eight opponents 27-6.
“We’re playing some really good soccer right now,” said Zemanski. “So is Adams. It should be a very good game.”
Mirror, mirror on the wall.
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