Varsity Girls Soccer Team wins District Championship

The Manchester Girls Varsity Soccer Team poses with the District Championship Trophy following their victory over Lenawee Christian School. Photo by Lisa Somerville.

submitted by Scott Somerville

The Manchester Girls Varsity Soccer Team started their district playoff run on Tuesday, May 31, after completing the regular season with a 12-5-2 record. The Lady Dutch received a first-round bye in the playoffs, advancing directly to the semi-final game vs. the Gryphons of Ann Arbor Greenhills.

Playing at Greenhills on an exceptionally hot afternoon, Manchester jumped to a 1–0 lead 16 minutes into the first half after junior Mary Sangster was fouled in the Greenhills penalty area, setting up a penalty kick subsequently converted by Sangster.

With the extreme heat taking a toll on both teams, the remaining time in the first half was mostly flat, with few scoring opportunities for either team. Entering halftime, the Lady Dutch held the 1–0 lead. Seventeen minutes into the second half, Manchester struck again after junior Marlena Ballnik made a pass toward the goal from about 35 yards out that bounced once and was headed into the net, again by Sangster. The Gryphons pressed for the remaining time and were able to convert their only goal of the match after a Lady Dutch pass was intercepted deep in the Manchester defensive area and skillfully converted.

With the heat continuing to play a factor in the game, several substitutions were made by the Manchester coaches, giving much-needed rest to some of the starting 11. This enabled the Lady Dutch to hold on to the lead and, at the final whistle, they prevailed 2–1, advancing to the district final vs. the Cougars of Lenawee Christian School.

The June 2 district final match would be the fourth time that the Lady Dutch and the Cougars faced each other in the last two seasons. Each time has decided either a league title or district championship. In 2021 the Lady Dutch claimed the league title and the Cougars the district championship. This year the Cougars took the league title and this game would, once again, decide the district championship.

Playing again at the hosting Greenhills school, the match proved to be a defensive showcase, with both teams giving few opportunities to score. Playing on artificial grass (turf), the Manchester team’s turf familiarity enabled a slight edge in speed and attacking the ball and the all-important possession battle advantage was slightly held by the Lady Dutch. Entering halftime, the game was deadlocked at 0–0. In the second half, the defensive theme continued. Excellent defensive play by juniors Grace Helmke and Sara Hock and sophomores Lydia Bennett and Gianna Turek continued to frustrate the Cougars as well.

Great goaltending by sophomore Megan Edwards, including one save batted away near the post, kept the Cougars scoreless. At the end of regulation, the game remained 0–0.

Being a playoff game, the Michigan High School Rules state that two, ten-minute overtime periods are to be played. If the game remains tied after overtime, a penalty shoot-out will follow. Much like regulation, the two overtime periods saw both teams deadlocked at 0–0 throughout, and at the final whistle, the deadlock would now be decided by a five-person penalty shoot-out for each team.

The Manchester coaches chose sophomores Fiona Howard and Lydia Bennet and juniors Ballnik, Helmke, and Sangster as the five players to shoot. In goal for Manchester was starting goalkeeper Edwards. Manchester started the round of penalty shots and after three rotations, the Cougars held a 3–2 advantage. Manchester’s fourth shot was converted by Helmke, and the Cougars’ fourth shot was saved by Edwards, knotting the penalties at three apiece. The fifth shot for the Lady Dutch was then converted by Ballnik, giving the Cougars one remaining shot to tie the game at four. As with the previous save, Edwards went right and made the save, sealing the win for Manchester.

Euphoria then erupted from the Lady Dutch bench as the team rushed the field to celebrate the victory, the District Championship, and to congratulate Edwards and the shooters.

“With all the pressure on me in the final shots, I expected to feel more nervous, yet I wasn’t in the slightest,” said Edwards following the game. “I’m proud to say I was happy to step up and fight for my team. This is something that will live in my memory for years to come.”

The Lady Dutch advance to the Regional 14 semi-final game against Plymouth Christian School on June 7. Kickoff is at 7pm and the game will be played at the Regional Host, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic located at 3500 W 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.