Rivals Detroit Country Day and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep met Sept. 8 as the No. 1 and 2 soccer teams in Division 3, just what you’d expect from programs that have each played for a state title in the past two seasons.
Yet, it was the future college baseball player who garnered the spotlight in the 0-0 draw.
The Yellowjackets (10-1-1) controlled play, with returning all-staters Tino Haratsaris and Micah Zacks creating chance after chance through the first 70 minutes. But NDP goalie Tomassino Offer wouldn’t budge, looking every bit as sharp as he did while helping the Fighting Irish win the 2024 state championship.
“I don’t think he played above his level,” DCDS coach Steven Bossert said. “That’s just who he is. He is a really good player.”
Which is saying something because soccer isn’t Offer’s best sport.
The senior is a star middle infielder for NDP’s baseball team. He spends his offseason playing travel and has already earned a handful of roster spots from Division III colleges. He’s hoping to catch on with a D-II school.
“Baseball is my thing,” said Offer, who stopped at least 10 shots. “It correlates with being a goalie because you’ve got to cover a certain area, diving and stuff like that are all similar, so I’m good at it. Both sports, you’ve got to be ready the entire time to make a play, but soccer has a little more communication, plus you’ve got a defense behind you, whereas baseball it’s you against the batter.”
Offer admits he was average at best when he joined the soccer team as a freshman. But coach Rob Suffredini said his “workaholic” baseball mindset carried over, and by midseason last year, he had become a reliable goalie. He split time early as a junior but claimed the outright starting job before the postseason and hasn’t let go since.
With eight shutouts in 11 games this fall, it’s clear no one is taking his spot anytime soon.
“He’s a high-level baseball player, and I think that’s what he wants to do in college, but he’s just gotten better every day for us over the last four years,” said Suffredini, whose Irish are 6-1-4 overall. “Late last year, we just decided to go with him because he was so dominant in training, and he’s held his spot.”
That’s not to say DCDS goalie Mitchell Hamway didn’t play well. He was perfect, too.
While the Yellowjackets controlled most of the attack, NDP, led by all-state midfielder Jack Kilpatrick, finally created chances in the last 10 minutes. The senior just missed on a free kick, and Matthew Marsheh saw his close-range shot roll inches wide of the right post.
Suffredini said Kilpatrick kicked NDP “into a higher gear” and was glad the offense showed some life. More than anything, he was relieved the Irish left Shaw Stadium without giving up a single goal to their rivals.
“I think we pushed pretty well in the second half to create some scoring chances,” Suffredini said. “But to keep these guys off the scoreboard is an accomplishment because they’ve got some great players, they’re well-coached and their system of play is difficult to defend.”
After the match, Haratsaris encouraged his teammates, hollering, “We’ll see them again! We’ll see them again!” Bossert offered the same words, knowing DCDS and NDP will probably meet in the district final, with the winner likely making another deep run. At this point, it’s tradition.
“It’s a little frustrating we couldn’t put one of those in, but they have an excellent goalkeeper, are well-coached and have dangerous players,” said Bossert, who coached the Yellowjackets to a state runner-up finish in 2023. “We played well — there’s no doubt about it — but sometimes you don’t score. But I know this is more of a scrimmage than anything else. Because once we get to the district, that’s when things are really going to happen. We’ll see them again.”
Only that meeting will require a shootout if regulation and overtime end without a score. Offer’s baseball chops will really be on display in sudden death.
Penalty kicks, extra innings. It doesn’t matter. Whatever the sport, Offer will be ready.
“Really, the difference is in baseball you’ve got one glove,” Offer said, holding up his hands. “And here, you’ve got two.”
9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
NDP will host a 9/11 memorial stair climb on Sept. 13, challenging participants to climb 110 stories in honor of fallen first responders. Organized with Northville gymnastics coach Victoria Clay, the fundraiser benefits the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports families of fallen heroes and injured veterans. Open to students, first responders and the community, the event combines fitness, faith and remembrance. “We are climbing for those who can’t,” Clay said.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.
Where: William Kozyra Alumni Field, 1300 Giddings Road
Cost: Minimum $20 donation (100% goes to Tunnel to Towers Foundation)
Virtual option: Available for those who cannot attend in person
Registration: Contact Victoria Clay (vclay703@gmail.com) or visit stair climb registration (https://memorialstairclimb.rsvpify.com/).
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: No. 1 Detroit Country Day, No. 2 Notre Dame Prep play to 0-0 draw in boys soccer
Reporting by Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
