MICHIGAN GIRLS SOCCER: Utica Eisenhower opens up D-1 tourney with shutout of Rochester Stoney Creek
- Dan Stickradt
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
UTICA, Mich. – The offensive machine also known as Utica Eisenhower was back it again Friday in a Division 1 district opener.
The No. 5-ranked Eagles took down 2023 Division 1 state champion Rochester Stoney Creek 4-0 at Swinehart Stadium to keep their postseason dreams alive and earn a district semifinals date next Wednesday with fourth-ranked Rochester at Rochester Adams.
The game will be the first match of a double-header at 5:30 p.m. with Rochester Adams (No. 9) and Romeo (No. 14) starting at around 7:30 p.m. 9in the other district semifinals clash.
Eisenhower (16-2-0) won its fourth straight game but is trying to make amends of recent district struggles. The Eagles were upset by Romeo (2-0) in last year’s pre-district and have not won a district since the 2017 season.
In fact, the winner of this loaded district has reached at least the Final Four the last three seasons – Rochester (2022) lost in the state semifinals, while Rochester Stoney Creek (2023) and Rochester Adams (2024) went on to capture state championships in those respective seasons.
Eisenhower was also knocked out by Stoney Creek in 2021 (1-0 in district semifinals), 2022 (2-0 in district semifinals) and 2023 (3-2 in a pre-district game that reached a shootout). The last time that the Eagles defeated the Cougars in the state tournament came back in 2019 (a 3-0 win in the district semifinals).
Eisenhower lost in the district finals two straight years in 2018 and 2019 – both to Rochester Adams and both 2-1 defeats in games decided by shootouts.
This time around the Eagles scored two goals in each half to deliver a convincing knockout blow to Stoney Creek, which finished a major rebuilding season with a sub-par 4-11-3 overall record.
Senior Devyn Redmond netted the eventual game-winning goal in the 20th minute with an unassisted tally to put the Eagles up front 1-0.
Sophomore Maryn Smith deposited a Gabby Gocaj feed in the 35th minute to build the 2-0 halftime advantage.
In the second half, the Eagles extended their lead to 3-0 when Ellera Jakubowski headed home a Julia Aniel cornerkick, while senior Lily Pantaleo scored an unassisted goal late in the second half to cap the scoring.
Sophomore Molly Mellott and freshman Anna Polisei shared the shutout in goal, while Abby Beardslee, Sonja Paterson, Charlotte Long, Nicole Von Zittwitz and Priti Cahill rotated on defense and had a helping hand in shutting Stoney Creek down.
It was a season of trials for Stoney Creek, which finished with a rare sub-five hundred season. The Cougars did record six shutouts and had won two straight heading into the postseason but were blanked in 12 games this season where they regularly played several freshmen in an extremely tough schedule with double-digit games against state-ranked opponents.
Meanwhile, Eisenhower picked up its 11th clean sheet of the season and have now outscored the opposition 66-12 this season. The Eagles will have to be clicking on all cylinders in the near future as Rochester is 14-1-4 with 13 shutouts and have navigated a brutally-tough schedule with a 39-12 scoring edge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the National Soccer Network regarding club/youth soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with ties to a particular state or states, contact Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and news@nationalsoccernetwork.com, or call 248-525-2349.
PREMIER MEDIA GROUP / NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK /
NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561215500230
— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / National Soccer Network
Comments