Manchester Girls Varsity Soccer team ranked #5 in the state!
The 2024 Manchester Varsity Girls Soccer team pose wearing green jerseys in recognition of Mental Health Awareness. Photo by Scott Somerville.
by Scott Somerville
The Manchester Girls Varsity Soccer team completed their seventh week of competition with wins against Columbia-Central, Jonesville, and Hanover-Horton.
On Monday, May 13, the visiting Eagles of Columbia-Central played a close and defensive match that was stalemated at 0–0 going into halftime. At the 61-minute mark, Lady Dutch sophomore winger Madelynn Bennett won the ball on the right side near the end line and sent a cross to senior captain and winger Miranda Austin at the far post. Austin skillfully shot in between the Eagles goalkeeper and the post for the go-ahead goal. Good defense by both teams prevented any further scoring and, at the end of the match, the Lady Dutch prevailed 1–0. For the game, senior goalkeeper Megan Edwards tallied five saves to preserve the shut-out.
On Wednesday, May 15, Manchester faced the visiting Jonesville Comets on “senior night.” The scoring started at the six-minute mark after a corner kick from Bennett was converted by senior midfielder Ellis Stapelfeldt off a back-heel shot just past the Comets’ goalkeeper. One minute later, Bennett sent a through-ball to speedy sophomore striker Abbi Austin who out-ran the Jonesville defense and scored Manchester’s second goal. At the 10-minute mark, senior captain and midfielder Meghan (MJ) Somerville intercepted a Jonesville pass, skillfully dribbled the ball through the defensive back line, and scored the third goal. With 25 minutes remaining in the first, Somerville sent a through ball to Abbi Austin who sped past the defense to score her second for the night giving Austin a “brace” for the match (brace = two goals in a single game). At the 37-minute mark, Somerville again sent a through ball to senior captain and midfielder Emma Woods who converted Manchester’s fifth goal of the night.
At halftime, the nine-member graduating senior class was recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to Manchester High School and Varsity Soccer. They are goalkeeper Megan Edwards, inside back and captain Fiona Howard, outside back Gianna Turek, holding midfielder and captain Emma Woods, midfielder and captain Meghan Somerville, and winger and captain Miranda Austin. This season, three international exchange students played on the team and contributed significantly to the team’s overall success. They are senior midfielder Ellis Stapelfeldt (Germany), senior winger/center back Susi Antognozzi (Italy), and senior winger/striker Mufliha Abdurizaeva (Uzbekistan).
In the second half, Manchester’s sixth goal was scored at the 50-minute mark when Woods found and passed to Somerville who then dribbled past the Comets’ center back to score. With 10 minutes remaining, Howard was able to collect and convert a Bennett corner kick after being deflected by the Comets’ defense to score the seventh goal for the Lady Dutch. At the final whistle, Manchester prevailed 7–0. Notably, this shut-out set a new Manchester Girls Soccer record for the most shut-outs in a single season with 12. As well, the 2024 team set a Manchester single-season consecutive shut-out record with 10. All season the Lady Dutch defense of Fiona Howard and junior Savannah Roe (center backs), Gianna Turek and junior Lila Harvey (outside backs), Emma Woods (holding mid-fielder), and Megan Edwards (goalkeeper) have frustrated opponents and kept high-scoring offenses from Leslie, Michigan Center, and Columbia-Central scoreless.
On Friday, May 17, Manchester traveled to Hanover-Horton for the final regular season away game. The Lady Dutch jumped to an extremely fast start when Somerville intercepted a Hanover-Horton pass, dribbled through the back line and scored 24 seconds from kickoff. This set a new Manchester record for fastest goal scored from kickoff. Two minutes later, Harvey won the ball on the right side and found Somerville, who weaved through the defense to score and make it 2–0, Manchester. Three minutes later, Hanover-Horton took advantage of a rare defensive breakdown by Manchester and converted their first goal of the night. At the eight-minute mark, Stapelfeldt intercepted a Hanover-Horton goal kick and shot it past the opposing keeper to go up 3–1. Four minutes later, Roe cleared the ball and found Somerville, who took it past two Hanover-Horton defenders for her third goal of the night and getting her a second hat trick of the season. Less than one minute from the opposing kickoff, Somerville passed to Harvey making a run up the right side. Harvey took a long shot that went just over the opposing goalkeeper for Manchester’s fifth goal. Howard scored Manchester’s sixth goal by winning the ball along the defensive line and dribbling up to score. The next two goals were scored by Stapelfeldt, first assisted by Woods, then Harvey, to put Manchester ahead 8–1 and giving Stapelfeldt a hat trick, her second of the season. The final two goals were scored by Somerville (unassisted) and Stapelfeldt (unassisted) giving Manchester a 10–1 lead and ending the game at halftime based on the mercy rule.
The victory over Hanover-Horton clinched the Cascades Conference Championship for the Lady Dutch with one final conference game against Napoleon at home on May 20. This is the third consecutive conference championship for Manchester Girls Soccer.
The team is currently 14-2-0 and ranked #5 in the state of Michigan in Division 4 by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association. As well, Manchester is the #1 seed in District 58, achieving a first-round playoff bye. Following the game vs. Napoleon on Monday, May 20, will be a district playoff on May 28 at home as Manchester is this year’s district host.
The 2024 senior class, front L–R, Miranda Austin, Meghan (MJ) Somerville, Emma Woods, Fiona Howard. Back L–R, Susi Antognozzi, Ellis Stapelfeldt, Megan Edwards, Mufliha Abdurizaeva, Gianna Turek. Photo by Scott Somerville.
The Lady Dutch Soccer Team celebrates following the win against Hanover-Horton and clinching the Cascades Conference Championship by signing “W” for win. Photo by Scott Somerville.
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