GIRLS SOCCER STATE FINALS
BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans, @StateChampsnet, @SportsSceneKeyes
EAST LANSING — In the girls soccer state rankings over the years, Montrose has rarely been a blip on the radar.
The Rams have not enjoyed state-wide notoriety since starting its program in the late 1990s, especially in the postseason.
Montrose made some headways this season by winning just its second district in school history. The Rams added some additional hardware in 2016, making a surprise run to the Division 4 state title game.
Montrose, ranked eighth, eventually fell to fourth-ranked Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett, 1-0, in a shootout on June 17 at Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium.
It was by far the school’s deepest postseason run — the school had never been beyond the regional semifinals before this year — and the Rams became just a play away from joining the state’s elite.
Liggett captured its first crown since 2005, while Montrose was left hungry for the future.
“I think it was back in 2009 that we really started to turn the corner,” recalled Montrose coach Jason Perrin. “We’ve been averaging (double-digit) for wins the past few years and have done well in our league. But in the postseason, in either D-3 or D-4, we could not get past (Saginaw) Nouvel or (Flint) Powers. They both have strong programs. This year we had one of our best years ever and we beat Nouvel in the district finals. I knew once we did that, we were capable of making a run.”
In the finals, University-Liggett (19-2-1) held a 4-2 edge on the penalty kicks to prevail. During the shootout, Montrose (23-4-1) misfired wide on their first two attempts, while Liggett’s Kelly Solak, Maddie Wu, Alexis Wagner and Kate Birgbauer converted their PKs in succession to seal the deal.
It was a case of missed opportunity for Montrose.
While both teas attempted eight shots through 100 minutes of play, the Rams came within inches of earning the win.
The aggressor against Liggett, Montrose had 11 cornerkicks in the finals, including sophomore Zoee Robbins’ header following a cornerkick that was cleared off the goal line by Liggett’s Teagan Cornell in the second half.
“I thought it was two very even teams that played a great game,” sighed Perrin. “We had our chances and so did they. We just couldn’t get one to go in. I don’t know how many shots we had, but I think 11 corners and didn’t get very many shots off those corners. That’s a credit to their defense.”
Still, as an unranked team in the preseason, Montrose climbed into the top 10 this year and made plenty of noise. The Rams should be a ranked team next year with a lot of returning talent — and a program that has finally garnered some respect from other state powers.
“We have come a long ways in my (13) years here,” said Perrin. “We have a lot of our girls playing club soccer now and we’re playing a tougher schedule. I think all of that has paid off and the reason why we had such a great season. I don’t know how many people out there thought we’d be a goal away from a state title.”
“It was probably my biggest (shot) of my career,” admitted Birgbauer, a freshman defenseman, of her game-clinching penalty kick. “I usually go to the same spot — usually. But I always watch the goalie’s feet and sometimes switch it up.”
Liggett already tamed top-ranked Lansing Christian, 1-0, in the semifinals — and the Pilgrims were the highest-scoring team in Division 4. The Knights took the bend-but-don’t-break approach against Montrose and kept the Rams off the scoreboard for 100 minutes of regulation and overtime periods.
“We are solid defensively, but we really worked hard on defense since last season and it made a difference,” noted Liggett coach David Dwaihy, who recorded his 98th win in eight seasons. “Our defense was great today. We did a great job of clearing the ball, especially on all of those cornerkicks.
“What a job today,” continued Dwaihy. “We got (to the state semifinals) last year and now state champions this year. I couldn’t be prouder of these girls.”
Both teams traded off eight shots in the game and both had four shots directly on frame. But neither could solve the defensive schemes.
“I thought it was two very even teams that played a great game,” sighed Montrose coach Jason Perrin. “We had our chances and so did they. We just couldn’t get one to go in. I don’t know how many shots we had, but I think 11 corners and didn’t get very many shots off those corners. That’s a credit to their defense.”
Montrose had 11 cornerkicks in the finals, including sophomore Zoee Robbins’ header following a cornerkick that was cleared off the goal line by Liggett’s Teagan Cornell.
Montrose also had a chance sail over the crossbar with 23 ticks left in regulation.
“We did a great job making it this far. I don’t think very many people thought we’d be here,” said Perrin. “Over the years we have always been in the same district with (Saginaw) Nouvel or Flint Powers (Catholic). When we beat Nouvel in the district finals, I knew we had the talent to make a run. We came up a goal short.”
Liggett outshot Montrose 2-1 over the two 10-minute overtime periods to set up the shootout.
“We were hoping it would go down to a situation where we deserved it. We didn’t play very well in overtime even though we had a goal called back. We knew that if we got to a shootout we would have a great chance,” said Birgbauer. “We’re good at penalty kicks.”
Liggett thought it took a 1-0 lead with 5:03 left in the second overtime, although the tally was called back when it was discovered the long throw-in into the box was untouched by any player.
“I think that lit a fire under us a little bit,” said Dwaihy. “We weren’t generating a lot of chances and then when that was called back, I think it (re-energized) us a little bit. When we got to the shootout, it’s anybody’s game.”