MICHIGAN GIRLS SOCCER: Warren Regina continues improbable run to state finals
- Dan Stickradt
- Jun 11
- 6 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Sadellites entered postseason state-ranked but only with 2-5-6 overall record
ROMEO, Mich. – It might seem somewhat odd that Warren Regina was ranked in the top 15 in the state in Division 3 all season.
The Sadellites bounced around in that top flight all season, climbing as high as No. 4 in early April while entering the postseason ranked 12th.
The only thing about that is while the Sadellites were considered one of the better teams in the state, the side only finished 2-5-6 overall in the regular season and 0-1-3 in the Catholic High School League-Central Division and lost to Division 2 second-ranked Birmingham MArian 3-0 in the CHSL Bishop Tournament semifinals.
But something happened along the way to heaven. Regina’s defense has been downright stifling and as a unit the Sadellites began scoring goals in the offseason – when it matters most..
Following Regina’s 2-0 shutout Tuesday of Almont, listed as honorable mention in the rankings in late May, in a state semifinals match at Romeo High School's Barnabo Stadium, the Sadellites have taken one giant leap into the Division 3 state finals.
Regina will face seventh-ranked Grand Rapids Catholic Central (12-9-2) in the title match Friday at 1 p.m. at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium.
“I’l be honest, there was a time earlier this season that I didn’t think this would be possible,” admitted veteran Regina coach Stafano Moraccini. “We are a young team with a lot of freshemn and sophomores. We had some injuries before the season and a couple of girls that opted not to play and just (compete) for their club teams. But we never stopped working and we played aver tough schedule this season.
“We challenged ou=rsevles all the time,” continued Moraccini. “We played a lot of (MAcomb Area Conference) Red (Division) teams because they are very good. You have some ties and some losses and it ruins your MPr for the districts. But the ultimate goal is to win a state championship.”
And here Regina (7-5-6) is advancing to the state finals for the first time in school history. Still playing in mid-June despite some regular season struggles of scoring goals and gaining some wins.
Of the Final Four in this year’s Division 3 state tournament, not one of those schools had ever won a state championship let alone even advanced to the state title game in the past. Both Almont (17-5-1) and Allegan were making their first trips to the state semifinals Tuesday while Grand Rapids Catholic Central was making just its third Final Four appearance and it was the fifth all-time for Regina, which operated in Harper Woods until 2004 when the school moved northwest to Warren.
The program has always been competitive in girls soccer, except this year the team struggled to score goals. In fact, Regina was outscored 19-10 in the regular season. The Sadellites did record a pair of shutouts in the regular season – both which were 0-0 draws – but were shut out six times during their 13-game regular season.
Regina did have a pair of contests cancelled due to weather this season, but did not schedule the limit of 18 dates before the postseason.
During the state tournament, Regina is now 5-0 with an 11-2 scoring edge. That’s one more goal scored during the state tournament run than the Sadellites scored during the entire 13-game regular season.
Against Almont, which came in with a 111-23 scoring edge this season and fresh off wins over two top 15-ranked teams during the regionals – No. 13 Williamston and No. 6 Frankenmuth – plus one district win over a ranked opponent, Regina shut down the young but talented Raiders.
Even Regina senior midfielder and captain Jenna Moeller believed this would be happening a couple of months ago. It was far removed from even her wildest dreams and dreams of her teammates – a roster that includes six freshmen and two sophomores.
Before heading off to NAIA school Siena Heights University where Moeller will enjoy her college soccer and academics career, she will lead her team onto the pitch one more time at MSU, where no other team in school history has been able to play.
“I did not think we would get this far but we worked so hard,” said Moeller after Tuesday’s state semifinals victory. “I’m proud of everyone. It’s a surprise but we’ve worked so hard that we’ve earned it.”
Regina surely has even with wins over state-ranked rival Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in the district finals (1-0 in double overtime), 1-0 over 15th-ranked Ann Arbor Greenhills in the regional sem finals and a 2-1 upset over No. 2-ranked and state powerhouse Detroit Country Day in a game that reached two overtimes and a shootout to decide the winner.
Last year DCD ousted Regina in the regional finals and have been one of the program’s biggest stumbling blocks over the last few decades.
Against Almont, the Sadellites did not stumble. Regina outshot the Raiders by a sizable margin and scored a goal in each half – both off the foot of Moeller – to advance to the final weekend of the Michigan high school season.
Moeller scored what proved to be the game-winner with 24:27 on a nice individual effort. After sending a cornerkick into the box, Almont failed to clear it. Moeller chased down the loose ball in the corner of the box, beat two defenders before uncorking a 15-yard left-footed shot into the back of the net.
Regina outshot Almont 6-3 in the first half and 13-6 for the game. Lily Hansen recorded her fifth shutout of the campaign for the Sadellites.
“I usually do a little rollover (with the ball) but I saw the (defender closing in) and I rolled it to my left foot. I just hit it with my left foot. It’s not the strongest foot but I can use it,” explained Moeller on f the first goal. “It was in my tool box, so I might as well use it.”
The Sadellites came out with waves of attacks to start the second half and rarely allowed Almont to even cross midfield for the first 20 minutes of the half. In fact, Regina scored on its first shot of the second half to cap the scoring.
After a failed clear, Moeller intercepted the ball on the right side and sent a high blast from 21 yards out and over traffic that curled inside the left goal post with 39:11 left to play.
Almont finally picked it up during the final 20 minutes and had a few shots and crosses into the box but couldn’t dent the scoreboard.
“Almont started to put some pressure on us late, but our defense played great as it has during the state tournament,” added Moraccini. “They play well with each other and cover for each other. We haven’t been allowing very many good chances against most teams (in the postseason) and now we’ll have a chance at it.”
Overall on the season, Almont finishes a 17-5-1 record, a .740 win percentage, 12 shutouts, been shut out four times and had one of the top offenses in all of Division 3 with a 111-25 scoring edge over 23 games. The Raiders have averaged 4.83 goals-per-game while posting a team goals-against-average of 1.09.
They were silenced by Regina’s stout back line.
Almont was ranked in the top 15 for the first few weeks of the regular season but tumbled down to the honorable mention category and remained there into the state tournament.
The Raiders were shut out for the fourth time this season against Regina, including once to Richmond in Blue Water Area Conference play and two other times in non-league matches. Almont went on to finish 12-2-0 in league play, finishing second to rival Armada (12-1-1) in the BWAC but went 2-1 against their rivals to the east, including a 2-0 shutout in the district finals when Armada was ranked 14th in Division 3.
Almont has been fielding quality teams for more than a decade but had a series of misfortunes of running into several state-ranked teams during district or regional play over the years and were unable to get to the final week of the season.
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