EAST LANSING – New Boston Huron’s girls soccer team found out this season what it takes to get to the top of the mountain.
The Chiefs just couldn’t find a way to plant their flag at the top.
The greatest season in school history ended on Friday, June 13, with a 7-0 loss to Hudsonville Unity Christian in the Division 2 state championship game at Michigan State.
No school in Michigan knows more about state soccer titles than Unity Christian. This is the 13th championship for the Crusaders, breaking a tie for most in state history with Madison Heights Bishop Foley.
It was their third in a row, but first in Division 2. Unity Christian beat Grosse Ile in the Division 3 finals the last two years before moving up this spring.
“They are definitely fast and strong,” Huron coach Matt Lividini said.
And the Crusaders had a huge advantage in tournament experience. Huron had never won a regional title before this spring.
“It was close all the way through halftime, but once things started rolling their way, the floodgates opened.”
The floodgates didn’t really open until a red card about midway through the second half forced Huron to operate one player short.
“They are just too powerful for that,” Lividini said.
Both teams pride themselves on defense. Huron had given up just 11 goals in 23 games this season with five of those coming against Saline, which is ranked No. 1 in Division 1. Unity Christian had allowed just four balls into its net all season and never more than a single goal in a game.
“We were hoping to be scoreless at halftime,” Lividini said. “Once it got to be 2-0 it was going to be tough, then three, four and five you can forget about it.”
Huron almost made it to a scoreless halftime draw.
Unity Christian wasn’t able to score until 3:19 before the intermission. That tally was a bit fluky. A loose ball caromed around several times before Tessa Ponstein poked it into the net.
That came about 13 minutes after Huron nearly grabbed the lead.
“Rylie (Cassette) broke in and almost had a goal,” Lividini said.
It stayed a 1-0 game until the 28:37 mark of the second half when Addison Pell scored for Unity Christian.
Once Huron was forced to play shorthanded, the Crusaders poured in five more goals in the final 16:46.
“Even when you are even-up, it’s tough against them,” Lividini said. “Today, we didn’t play our best, but for 21 in a row we did our best day in and day out.”
Huron started the season with a tie and a loss, then reeled off 21 wins in a row before falling Friday.
The Chiefs must say goodbye to seniors Cassette, Addison Dolencic, Ava Plackowski, Shaylyn Carpenter, Gabby Emelian, Callie Eaton and Sarah Stewart.
“It will be tough (to replace them), but now the girls know what it takes to get here,” Lividini said.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Stellar New Boston Huron girls soccer run ends in state finals
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
