BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
COMSTOCK PARK – Burton Genesee Christian made quite a statement on the soccer pitch the past two seasons.
The proof is all in the numbers.
The Soldiers put together one of the state’s most memorable back-to-back state championship runs in recent years, culminated by a 3-0 shutout of Muskegon Catholic Central in the MHSAA Division 4 state finals at Comstock Park High School on Nov. 5.
Genesee Christian, which boasts only 114 students in grades 9-12, finished 28-0-0 last season and 23-2-1 this season — good for a two-year total of 51-2-1.
The seniors on the Soldiers’ roster posted an amazing 83-12-4 ledger over the past four years.
“I think there are two main reasons for our success,” offered coach Doug Anderson. “One, we have a great work ethic and it carries over into games. And two, we have great chemistry. It doesn’t matter who is scoring the goals or making the plays, these guys just wanted to win. They had one common goal — to get back to the finals and try to win it. These guys are all great friends. They play for each other.”
In the midst of this accomplishment was a state record 33-game win streak which started at the beginning of the 2015 campaign and ended back in September. The Soldiers only losses this season were to Division 2 state semifinalist Fenton (2-1) and Division 3 school Lake Fenton (3-0).
In the postseason, the Soldiers marched past Burton St. Thomas More Academy (9-0), Brighton Charyl Stockwell Academy (4-0), Dansville (3-0), Lincoln-Alcona (4-0), Marlette (3-0), No. 4 Ann Arbor Greenhills (1-0) and Muskegon Catholic Central (3-0), good for a 27-0 scoring edge in the playoffs.
“I don’t think people knew that much about us last season,” said Anderson, who is 131-43-11 over eight seasons at his alma matter. “We don’t play in a league, so we go out and find anyone who can play us. We’ll play larger schools to get us ready for the tournament. People knew a little bit about us this season, but I didn’t turn in some of our results this year. I would rather fly under the radar a little bit. The only ranking that really matters is at the end of the season.”
Last season, Genesee Christian entered the postseason ranked only 14th in the D-4 top 20 before finishing the campaign perfect with a 3-2 overtime victory over Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic. The Soldiers did so behind a monstrous 116-12 scoring edge and 14 shutouts throughout the campaign.
This season, the Soldiers entered the tournament ranked sixth despite not losing to a D-4 school since the 2014 regional semifinals to Saginaw Valley Lutheran (1-0). Genesee Christian was 17-0-1 this fall against school’s with D-4 enrollment.
Genesee Christian also outscored its 26 opponents this season, 102-14.
Zach Noecker, who had seven saves in the state finals, recorded seven shutouts this postseason and added 17 clean sheets to his career total this season. He finished with a 0.54 goals-against-average and an .845 save percentage this season.
In this year’s state finals, Cole Russell (31:58) and Caleb DuPree (24:14 and 3:10) scored in the first half for Genesee Christian.
Russell finished the year with 22 goals and 17 assists. DuPree recorded 27 goals and nine assists, Ryan LaBrecque scored 11 with five assists and Tyler Rose added 10 goals and three assists.
Riley Buchalski, who missed half of the campaign after garnering All-State First Team honors last season, chipped in with five goals and five assists.
Daniel Heath anchors the Soldiers’ defensive unit.
Noecker, Russell and Rose all made the D-4 All-State First Team, Dupree garnered All-State Third Team status and Buchalski earned All-State Honorable Mention status.
“It’s amazing what these boys have accomplished over the past few years,” said Anderson. “We won over 80 games the past four years, won back-to-back state championships and even set some school records. I will miss this group because they have done so much for our program.”