MICHIGAN GIRLS SOCCER: Marian trying to make amends in CHSL tourney
- Dan Stickradt
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – In a rare situation, Birmingham Marian ended up playing its Catholic High School League Bishop Tournament semifinals match with Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood last season without several key players.
Besides high school graduation happening that night – May 16, 2024 – the state-ranked Mustangs were missing a few more players that were taking AP tests or sitting out with minor injuries.
As it would have it, Cranbrook Kingswood ended up pulling the major upset over short-handed Marian with a 4-3 victory over the Mustangs. Despite winning another CHSL Central Division title last year, Marian was unable to compete in the conference tournament finals.
While the Mustangs still won division, district and regional titles and finished as the Division 2 state runner-up, there was a void in terms of the team’s goals last season in terms of not winning the conference tournament championship.
Competing Monday in the CHSL Bishop semifinals at the Farmington Hills Community Center's The Hawk Stadium, the Division 2 second-ranked Mustangs dominated from start to finish in recording a 3-0 shutout of Division 3 state-ranked Warren Regina to advance to the conference finals.
“Last year we were really hurt by that, going out 4-3 to Cranbrook in the semifinals,” said senior captain Nadia Valka, one of the Mustangs’ leaders and anchor of the back line from the center back position. “This year we had this (semifinals) game marked on the calendar. We came ready, we came prepared. We took things from the last game (4-1 win over Cranbrook back on April 24) to get the job done, especially on turf. We had this marked because we know we want this tournament.”
Marian, the CHSL-Central Division champion in 2025 at 4-0-0, vowed to remedy that situation from last season and turn it into a positive this year.
The Mustangs (13-2-1) scored all of their goals in the second half and recorded their fourth straight shutout to earn their pass into Saturday's 2 p.m. CHSL Bishop Tournament finals at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic. Defending CHSL Bishop Tournament champion Farmington Hills Mercy did not qualify this season for the CHSL Tournament.
Marian played quality possession ball from the opening kick-off, forcing the Satellites to chase the ball throughout the game. The Mustangs outshot Regina 4-1 in the opening 40 minutes but settled for the 0-0 stalemate at the half.
In the final 40 minutes, Marian simply took over. The Mustangs scored their three goals in the second half, outshooting Regina 13-2 in the match overall, including 10-2 with shots on goal. Marian even held a 4-1 edge off cornerkicks and left nothing to chance.
Bella Musachio broke the tie with 34:17 to play on a goal which proved to be the game-winner. Nia Bordogna’s free kick from the right side sailed into traffic with Abby Walton getting the initial header on the ball. The ball was deflected out towards the edge of the box where an awaiting Musachio uncorked a banger into the back of the net.
Gulianna Agrusso hammered home an unassisted goal to push the lead to 2-0 with 24:55 remaining, while Emma Wyciskalla deposited a 15-yard shot into the goal following a cross from Bordogna with 20:50 remaining to cap the scoring.
Marian (13-2-1) rotated its bench into the game after that point and wore down the Satellites, who could only muster one shot on goal in each half.
“Last season was a little unfortunate as we were missing a lot of players,” recalled Marian second-year coach Danny Price. “But this time we came out, and even though we dominated the first half we didn’t score. But we really opened it up in the second half. The girls made sure we wouldn’t be in a similar position this year.”
Marian freshman goalkeeper Olivia Bussa notched the shutout on two saves, as the Mustangs recorded their 10th shutout in 16 games and lowered the team’s goals-against-average down to a paltry 0.50. Marian has outscored the opposition 52-8 this season and has played a challenging schedule with games against the likes of Bloomfield Hills, Troy Athens, Rochester, Oxford, Detroit Country Day, Mason, Salem and Williamston, amongst others.
Marian is 8-2-0 against teams that have been ranked or listed as honorable mention and have this season.
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