BOYS SOCCER: Everest Collegiate finally reaches district summit with first postseason crown
Mountaineers topple Oakland Christian
2-0 to advance to regional semifinals
.
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
AUBURN HILLS — Back at the start of summer, John Haezebrouck was quick to remind his team of an obvious void up on the school’s gymnasium walls.
It was a challenge, really, to the members of the Clarkston Everest Collegiate boys soccer team to change that. His players accepted the challenge and delivered in the clutch.
The Mountaineers, which had a cooperative team with Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes for three years and a solo program now for six seasons, finally reached a benchmark Saturday with the first Division 4 district title in school history.
Everest Collegiate has virtually rewritten the school record books in the sport this season and dominated from start to finish in posting a 2-0 shutout of host Auburn Hills Oakland Christian to advance to pioneer territory for the boys soccer program.
“We had a meeting back in June and we looked at all the banners in the gym and ours was the only one that is bare,” beamed Clarkston Everest Collegiate coach John Haezebrouck. “I took a picture of it and placed it on a sheet of paper and told the guys to hold onto this. Hopefully come October 19 it won’t bare anymore.”
It marked the third time in program history that the Mountaineers climbed the district summit only to come up short the first two times. The third time was truly the charm.
“This is the third time we’ve been to the (district) finals but the first time we’ve been able to capture the title,” smiled Haezebrouck. “We worked hard for this. There was a time a few years ago where we didn’t even win a game. Now we won our first district championship.
“I couldn’t be prouder than I am of these group of boys. We’ve got a good group of seniors. We’ve got some young guys that are stepping up like a freshman that scored two today,” continued Haezebrouck. “They knew it. We (as coaches) knew it. We just had to show everyone else.”
Everest Collegiate dominated from start to finish, holding a commanding 23-5 shots edge, including 15-3 with shots on frame, and even collected six of the game’s seven cornerkicks. Yet the Mountaineers had difficulty finding the net until the later stages of the second half when they scored the game winner and insurance goal in the 66th and 79th minute, respectively, to seal the deal.
The Mountaineers will travel to Chesaning Tuesday for the regional semifinals against Roscommon, which upset No. 15-ranked Midland Calvary Baptist in another district final one day earlier.
Senior Alex Earnhardt, who converted from a defender to goalkeeper following last season, was called upon to make just three saves for Everest. Two were of the clutch variety with the Mountaineers clinging to a 1-0 lead.
Earnhardt dove to his right to thwart Connor Butcher, one of Oakland County’s top goal scorers, on a penalty kick with 13:20 remaining in the contest, then stopped Butcher cold once again on the rebound just three seconds later.
“He’s worked hard because he’s played defense for us the last three years but he took it upon himself to be the keeper this year,” said Haezebrouck. “He’s been stepping up for us all year.”
And Earnhardt read Butcher perfectly on the penalty kick.
“I’ve watched the kid for four years. He’s a senior and great player, but he never seams to kick it opposite of his right foot and never seems to use his left foot. So I was assuming he was going to go left side of the net and happened to save it and kick it back right at him and save it again,” said Earnhardt. “It was a crazy opportunity.
“This is incredible really for the seniors. I remember coming on as a freshman and my freshman year was the first team in school history that even had a winning record,” continued Earnhardt. “We’ve had some amazing athletes on this team over the years but couldn’t win. I just think this is amazing for our seniors to finally win a district. I think our school deserves it and I think we deserve it.”
Freshman midfielder Luke Walker scored what proved to be the game-winner with 14:58 to play in the second half. He retrieved a through ball from senior forward Fernando Caccia and finished off his breakaway attempt from eight yards out.
Everest Collegiate (13-4-1) finally put the game away with 1:37 remaining when Walker scooped up an Oakland Christian goal kick and uncorked the redirection shot from 25 yards out.
“In the first half we were trying to shoot from outside the 20 too much or 30 yards away and (the goalie) was able to save those. Once we started penetrating past the four defenders back there and played the ball wide, then we created better chances,” said Haezebrouck. “I told the boys we’ve got to crash the net because I have faith in our defense and goalkeeping that we don’t give up much. We finally were able to score late in the second half.”
Oakland Christian (7-15-1) ventured through a rebuilding campaign after losing most of its starters from a year ago. The Lancers upset 13th-ranked Burton Genesee Christian, 4-3, in the semifinals on Wednesday but could not find the same magic against the red-hot Mountaineers.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jayden Peterson finished 13 saves on the day and was quite active on crosses, cornerkicks and set pieces to keep Oakland Christian within range.
“Our regular season was not what we were typically used to at Oakland Christian. But I am definitely happy for this team from where they are at the end of the season,” said Oakland Christian coach Patrick Reyes. “They certainly grew a lot and played better (down the stretch). They played a lot better as a team.
“We lost to them 5-1 early in the season and to have this one knotted up 0-0 to the last 15-20 minutes — it could have gone either way at that point,” added Reyes. “Sometimes goals like that deflate you a little bit. But we still hung in tight. We had an opportunity to tie it up with the PK but the goalie made a fantastic save.”
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