GIRLS SOCCER: Stoney Creek blanks Eisenhower to reach district finals
GIRLS SOCCER: Stoney Creek blanks Eisenhower to reach district finals
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
Dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
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ROMEO – A year ago Rochester Stoney Creek logged the whole season in the Division 1 top 15 and was one of the most dangerous teams in the state.
But despite outshooting Romeo by a wide margin in the Division 1 district finals, the Cougars fell 1-0 to the Bulldogs to see their season end prematurely.
Stoney Creek will get a shot at redemption thanks to Thursday’s 2-0 district semifinal victory over Utica Eisenhower.
Seventh-ranked Stoney Creek (13-3-2) and fifth-ranked Rochester (14-0-4) will face off in the district championship at 1 p.m. Saturday at Romeo.
“It’s that time of year,” noted Stoney Creek coach Bryan Mittelstadt. “We had to beat Eisenhower again and now we’ll get a chance at a district title against Rochester.”
Junior forward Lilley Bosley extended her single-season school record with her 25th goal of the season – she tied the mark with 22 last season – and is as dangerous as any sniper around the net.
“I’m so thankful that Lilley Bosley is on our team. We’ve been riding that train all season long,” added Mittelstadt. “She’s scored against almost everybody. In a game this season against (Birmingham) Groves, she scored with her left foot, her right and with her head. There’s not too many high school-aged girls who can do that.”
Bosley, an All-State First Team selection last season, scored what proved to be the game-winner midway through the first half. Maddie McGinlay picked up the assist.
Olivia Lombardo added an insurance tally in the second half off a pass from Selena Shaw.
Freshman Merrick Schwalbach recorded the shutout between the pipes with six saves. Schwalbach inherited the reigns this season when junior Sophie Homan – one of the nation’s top goalkeepers – opted to not play high school ball this season and also graduated a year early. It marked Schwalbach’s eighth clean sheet of the campaign.
Stoney Creek tied OAA Red Division champion Rochester 1-1 back on April 26.
“We survived to play another game. Now we’ll practice one day and get ready for Rochester,” added Mittelstadt. “They are a very good team. But we hope to have a better showing than last year.”
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