SAGINAW — The goal for the U13 Midwest United Northern Michigan Football Club girls team has always had a direct focus on earning a Michigan State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) state cup title.
And, they’re getting closer.
The first northern Michigan group to ever play in a junior state cup has made leaps each season of competition.
Three years ago, the group exited during bracket play, then followed it up with a quarterfinal trip and second round exit from there last season.
This spring, they upped themselves again, defeating that Eastside FC team that sent them packing a year ago with a 1-0 victory in the semifinals, before reaching the finals.
NMFC eventually fell in that championship match to a Waterford Detroit area Warriors squad in a 1-0 match decided on a direct kick.
Bracket play wins included a 6-1 victory over TBAYS North Storm, a 6-0 win over BASA 2012 and a 1-0 win over Portage SC 2012 White.
The NMFC squad of girls held together a 13-1 goal-differential through bracket play, before a 4-2 goal-differential on their way to a runner-up finish.
Coached by Petoskey graduate Alyssa Harrold, the complete team includes Abby Zielinski, Anna Kossak, Beatric Kris, Brailyn Zulski, Breelynn Muse-Mead, Dawson Payton, Etta Mikulski, Genevieve Olson, Giavanna Murrell, Isla Marsh-Caroffino, Izzy Robinson, Lena Kaszubowski, Lilian Nemec, Maeve Riley, Oliva Ingalls and Sophia Miller.
Zulski led all scorers with eight goals for the tournament.
Payton, Zielinski and Robinson all finished with two goals, with Mikulski, Nemec and Murrell all notching one.
Kossak and Muse-Mead only allowed three goals in net for the tournament.
Nemec and Zulski have also been invited to the Midwest regional camp ahead, representing some of the top talent in Michigan’s Olympic Development program.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: U13 Midwest United Northern Michigan Football Club girls earn best state cup finish
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
