HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER PICKS: Virginia Final Four, Michigan State Finals on tap for this weekend with many intriguing matchups and showdowns
- Dan Stickradt
- Jun 12
- 7 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Both Virginia and Michigan will conclude its seasons this weekend in high school girls soccer.
The Virginia High School League will play its state semifinals on Friday and state finals on Saturday at various sites, while the Michigan High School Athletic Association will play two state finals on Friday and two more on Saturday -- all at Michigan State University.
Below are the picks for both states here on the National Soccer Network (NSN) – and there are several great matches in store for the entire weekend.
VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE GIRLS SOCCER STATE SEMIFINALS AND FINALS
(June 13-14 at various sites)
CLASS 1
RINER AUBURN (15-5-0) vs. ALTATISTA (7-12-3), 1 p.m. June 13, at Salem Spartan Soccer Field: Alaista made one of those Cinderella-type runs but only has seven wins entering the state semifinals. Auburn has navigated a tough schedule with a 15-5-0 record. Those winning ways helps the Eagles advance.
PICK: Riner Auburn, 3-1.
WYTHEVILLE GEORGE WYTHE (13-4-2) vs. WEST POINT (13-2-0), 3 p.m., June 13, at Salem Spartan Soccer Field: These two teams have similar records and have combined for 26 wins. George Wythe, however, has played more games and is more battle tested. The Maroons advance.
PICK: Wytheville George Wythe, 2-1.
FINALS, 10 a.m., June 14, at Salem Spartan Soccer Field:
PICK: Riner Auburn, 2-1.
CLASS 2
BLUEFIELD GRAHAM (22-1-0) vs. BERRYVILLE CLARKE COUNTY (15-6-0), 1 p..m. June 13, at Roanoke College: It’s hard to pick against a team that is 22-1 entering the Final Four. Really difficult. The G-Men have outscored their opponents 143-9, while the Eagles own a 90-29 scoring edge. The scoreboard might light up a few times in this one.
PICK: Bluefield Graham, 3-2.
SALEM GLENVAR (18-2-0) vs. POQUOSON (11-6-0), 3 p.m., June 13 at Roanoke College: Sometimes numbers don’t lie. Glenvar owns a 125-11 scoring edge, while the Islanders just a 43-25 edge on the scoreboard.
PICK: Salem Glenvar, 4-1.
FINALS, 12:30 p.m., June 14, at Roanoke College:
PICK: Bluefield Graham, 2-1
CLASS 3
ROANOKE CAVE SPRING (20-0-0) vs. NOKESVILLE BRENTSVILLE (15-2-3), 9 a.m., June 13, at Palmyra Fluvanna County H.S.: Both teams have put together impressive resumes. Cave Spring is unbeaten at this stage with a 91-3 scoring edge, while Brentsville has a 68-10 differential or plus-58. Two teams that have only allowed a combined 13 goals and spells great defense. Offensively, Cave Spring is just a little bit better.
PICK: Roanoke Cave Spring, 1-0 (OT)
CROZET WESTERN ALBEMARLE (13-4-2) vs. WILLIAMSBURG LAFAYETTE (15-3-1), 11 a.m., June 13 at Palmyra Fluvanna County H.S.: Numbers-wise, these two teams match up closely. Both sides have only conceded 12 goals all season while they have a combined 28-7-3 record. This could possibly go either way.
PICK: Williamsburg Lafayette, 2-1 (OT)
FINALS, 10 a.m. June 14 at Palmyra Fluvanna County H.S.:
PICK Roanoke Cave Spring, 2-0.
CLASS 4
PURCELLVILLE WOODGROVE (12-8-1) vs. WILLIAMSBURG JAMESTOWN (13-3-1), 9 a.m., June 13 at Charlottesville Monticello H.S.: Woodgrove has done an admirable job of turning a .500 record in the regular season into a state semifinals run. Jamestown has been a little bit more consistent and has only yielded 12 goals while Woodgrove has conceded 28
PICK: Williamsburg Jamestown, 3-1.
LEESBURG LOUDOUN COUNTY (20-0-1) vs. MECHANICSBURG ATLEE (16-3-0), 9 a.m., June 13, at Charlottesville Monticello H.S.: This could be one of the better matchups in the VHSL Final Four. Loudoun is undefeated with a 84-7 scoring edge while Atlee has only three losses and still outscored its opposition 77-11. It’s hard to reach the state semis and suffer your first loss and it won’t happen here.
PICK: Leesburg Loudoun County, 2-1.
FINALS, 10 a.m., June 14, at Charlottesville Monticello H.S.:
PICK: Leesburg Loudoun County, 1-0
CLASS 5
ASHBURN INDEPENDENCE (21-0-0) vs. VIRGINIA BEACH OCEAN LAKES (17-4-0), 11 a.m., June 13, at Richmond Mills Godwin H.S.: With 17 wins and a 60-17 scoring edge, those type of numbers are very respectable for a team enjoying a long tournament run and Ocean Lakes has done just that. Then you look at the opposition. Independence is unbeaten and untied and has outscored its foes 106-3. Independence lost in the state semifinals last year to eventual champion Virginia Beach Kellam (1-0) and would like another crack at that team on the big stage.
PICK: Ashburn Independence, 2-0.
RICHMOND GODWIN (13-5-1) vs. VIRGINIA BEACH KELLAM (20-0-0), 11 a.m., June 13, at Richmond Mills Godwin H.S.: Godwin made an unexpected run to the semis with a five-loss season. A sixth loss is likely. Kellam has allowed just one goal all season (93-1 to be exact) and is not only ranked No. 1 in the state but No. 2 in the country by the United Soccer Coaches for the 17 states who play girls soccer in the spring.
PICK: Virginia Beach Kellam, 4-0
FINALS, 12:30 p.m., June 14, at Glen Allen Deep Run High School:
PICK: Virginia Beach Kellam, 1-0 (OT)
CLASS 6
GLEN ALLEN DEEP RUN (19-1-0) vs. ARLINGTON YORKTOWN (16-3-0), 1:30 p.m.. June 13, at Richmond Douglas Freeman H.S.: Two more teams that are evenly matched, at least numbers-wise. Deep Run has one of the best tournament names in the country and they surely have made a deep run with only one loss and a 97-3 scoring edge. Yorktown has outscored its opposition 60-19 and has 16 wins.
PICK: Glen Allen Deep Run, 3-1
LURTON SOUTH COUNTY (17-2-1) vs. SOUTH RIDING FREEDOM (15-2-2), 11 a.m., June 13 at Richmond Douglas Freeman H.S.: Combined these two schools are 32-4-3, so they both know how to win. South County wins with defense, as they only have a 36-9 edge on the scoreboard. Freedom is better offensively with a 68-8 edge. What will win, team defense or offense?
PICK: South Riding Freedom, 2-0.
FINALS, 12:30 p.m.., June 14, at Glen Allen High School:
PICK: Glen Allen Deep Run, 2-1.
MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
GIRLS SOCCER STATE FINALS
(June 13-14 at Michigan State University DeMartin Stadium)
DIVISION 3
WARREN REGINA (7-5-6) vs. GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL (12-8-2), 1 p.m., June 13, at Michigan State University DeMartin Stadium: The records are deceiving because both sides have played extremely tough schedules. Take for instance GRCC. This will be the 15th game against a school that was ranked or honorable mention this season. The Cougars spent some time at No. 1 in the rankings before slipping down to seventh. They have 10 seniors and perhaps a better offense with a 52-25 scoring edge and 10 shutouts. Regina only had two regular season wins. The Sadellites have only given up 21 goals all season but they have also scored just 21 goals entering the finals and 11 of them came in the state tournament. None of the Final Four teams in Division 3 this year had ever played in the state finals and we will have a new champion with the game featuring first-time finalists. Who will claim the ‘ship?
PICK: Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 1-0
DIVISION 2
HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN (21-0-2) vs. NEW BOSTON HURON (21-1-1), 4 p.m., June 13, at Michigan State University DeMartin Stadium: Look at the numbers and these two teams' stats simply jump off the table. Unity Christian is playing in its fourth straight state finals and is the two-time defending D-3 state champion and now playing in Division 2. The Crusaders are going after title No. 13 and have been ranked No. 1 all season. Unity has not given up a goal in three straight postseasons and has a 102-4 scoring edge and 19 shutouts this season. New Boston Huron is an up-and-comer that has won a program record 21 straight games after starting 0-1-1. The loss was against Division 1 top-ranked and state finalist Saline (21-0-2) and that was a 5-2 decision. Since then the Chiefs have not only won 21 straight but have a 107-11 overall edge on the scoreboard, including 104-5 during the state’s longest streak this season. However, Unity has become the staple of all Michigan teams in the past 25 years and also has the likely Miss Soccer winner in Ava Lutke.
PICK: Hudsonville Unity Christian, 2-1.
DIVISION 4
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN (17-4-2) vs. GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY-LIGGETT (14-3-4), 1 p.m., June 14, at Michigan State University DeMartin Stadium: Kalamazoo Christian is 5-5 all-time in state finals and reached the Final Four for a 15th time this season. The Comets have battled through several ranked opponents this season and the 2023 state champs would love nothing more than to erase the memory of last year’s sub-par performance in the D-4 state finals – a shootout loss to unranked Jackson Lumen Christi despite a 21-7 shots edge entering PKs. University-Liggett last won a state title in 2016 in a shootout win over Montrose and also played a vigorous schedule this season. Veteran David Dwaihy, who is retiring next school year, would love nothing more than to lead the Knights to the title. Liggett has a 53-20 scoring edge and nine shutouts while Kalamazoo Christian a 79-22 edge on the board and 13 clean sheets. The big difference is state finals experience, as the Comets are playing in their third straight title game and sixth in the last eight years.
PICK: Kalamazoo Christian, 2-1.
DIVISION 1
SALINE (21-0-2) vs. BYRON CENTER (20-1-3), 4 p.m., June 14, at Michigan State University DeMartin Stadium: This one has classic written all over it. Saline, a state semifinalist two years ago, is unbeaten entering the state finals for the first time since 2015 – a year the Hornets finished 22-0-3. Saline has been ranked No. 1 all season long and have the state’s best offense (115-5, 5.00 goals-per-game) and Division 1’s best defense (19 shutouts, 0.22 goals-against-average). First-time state finalist Byron Center, somehow only ranked 12th, has outscored the opposition 99-9 with 16 clean sheets and have won a program record 17 straight games. The sole loss for veteran mastermind John Conlon’s troops came on March 29 in a 1-0 setback to East Grand Rapids. That’s the No. 3 offense in Division 1 and the No. 2 defense for Byron Center. Both teams have a bevy of high-level club talent and future college players and it’s sad that someone is going to end the season with a loss. Could an overtime or shootout be needed to decide the winner. We’ll flip a coin here.
PICK: Saline, 2-1 (2OT, SO, 5-4 on PKs)
(Dan Stickradt is Director of News of the National Soccer Network. He can be reached via email at dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com. Follow on Twitter/X @msn_stickradt)
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