Preview: Soccer Finals Filled with Past History Makers, Potential Record Setters
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 6, 2026
This is nearly guaranteed to end up the most storied MHSAA Boys Soccer Finals since the sport’s inaugural season of tournament play in 1982.
Speaking of, two of the three champions from that first season will play Saturday at Grand Ledge to complete this latest campaign – Livonia Stevenson in Division 1 and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in Division 4.
Stevenson is one of the most accomplished programs in MHSAA history, and it will play for the Division 1 title against Troy – which it defeated for its most recent championship in 1996.
Troy, St. Joseph and Liggett, meanwhile, will attempt to join 19 others as undefeated champions. St. Joseph and Liggett, in fact, can become just the third and fourth (and first since 2015) to go an entire season without a loss or tie.
Warren De La Salle Collegiate in Division 2 is playing to become the fourth team to win three Finals in a row, but must take on a Bears team seeking to win its first.
Elk Rapids and Williamston in Division 3 will face off in a rematch after Elk Rapids won their first meeting 2-0 on Aug. 29. Elk Rapids is riding one of the longest shutout streaks in MHSAA history, and Williamston has been the tournament’s most incredible surprise after entering the postseason with a sub-.500 record.
And finally, certainly not to be forgotten, we have Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – Liggett’s opponent in Division 4 – set to tie Detroit Country Day for the MHSAA record with an 18th appearance in an MHSAA Final. The Warriors have won 10, good for second-most all-time.
Saturday’s first Final will be Division 4 at 10 a.m., followed by Division 3 at 12:30 p.m., Division 2 at 3:30 and Division 1 at 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online only at GoFan. All four Finals also will be broadcast and available with subscription on the NFHS Network: Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4
Below is a glance at all eight contenders, with statistics through Regionals:
Division 1
LIVONIA STEVENSON
Record/rank: 16-4-4, unranked
Michigan Power Rating: No. 26
Coach: Louis Sala, first season (16-4-4)
League finish: First in Lakes Valley Conference Lakes and overall
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 1996, five runner-up finishes).
Players to watch: Luca Allevato, sr. GK (0.59 goals-against average, 12 shutouts); Dominic Allevato, sr. F (13 goals, 4 assists); Niko Zhuli, sr. M (5 goals, 7 assists); Rocky Everts, jr. F (11 goals, 2 assists).
Outlook: Even with Stevenson headed to its first Final since 2008, the Spartans still rank third all-time in championship match appearances and tied for fifth for number of titles won. They defeated No. 12 Hartland during this tournament run and total have allowed only three goals over six postseason games. Stevenson started the season 2-3-2 but has lost only once since Sept. 10, and the Regional title also was a first since 2008. Sala was an all-stater at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and then played at Northern Illinois and Michigan State.
TROY
Record/rank: 18-0-2, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Adam Spinks, fourth season (55-14-4)
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2003, Class A runner-up 1996.
Players to watch: Kevin Garay, sr. M (11 goals, 6 assists); Connor Hotts, soph. F (19 goals, 14 assists); Ryan Wind, sr. M (4 goals, 12 assists); Mateo Coronado, sr. F (10 goals, 4 assists).
Outlook: Troy has reached this weekend after winning a third-straight District title and then its first Regional championship since 2017. The draws came against rival Troy Athens and No. 8 Birmingham Seaholm, and the Colts went on to defeat Seaholm three weeks later in a District Final. Troy also defeated Utica Eisenhower in a Regional Final and No. 6 Salem in Wednesday’s Semifinal. Senior midfielder Cole Cusmano has been another key contributor with six goals and eight assists heading into Wednesday, and junior keeper Will Horvath has shutouts in 10 of the team’s 20 games.
Division 2
ST. JOSEPH
Record/rank: 23-0, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: John Brown, 14th season (196-78-26)
League finish: First in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1992.
Players to watch: Jacob Gonzales, sr. GK (0.14 goals-against average, 19 shutouts); Remy Kelm, sr. M (16 goals, 8 assists); Evan Searles, sr. M (13 goals, 12 assists); Evan Hudak, sr. M (14 goals, 21 assists).
Outlook: St. Joseph is seeking its first championship after winning its first Regional title since 1992, and will go down in history for a few more reasons regardless of Saturday’s result. The Bears have given up four goals this fall, which right now is tied for fewest allowed in one season all-time, and their 20 shutouts are tied for fifth on that list. St. Joseph hasn’t allowed a goal in its last 12 games, a streak that is tied for sixth-longest in MHSAA history. Gonzales ranks similarly on the individual record book lists for keepers. The Bears also reached 100 goals for the season Wednesday in a 6-0 win over No. 5 Holland.
WARREN DE LA SALLE COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 20-3-4, No. 6
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Thaier Mukhtar, 38th season (636-150-103)
League finish: Second in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2025), one runner-up finish.
Players to watch: Andrew Corder, sr. F (28 goals, 10 assists); Antonio Cardella, sr. M (14 goals, 4 assists); Settimo Leone, sr. M (7 goals, 14 assists); Dominic Baldarotta, sr. GK (0.56 goals-against average, 12 shutouts).
Outlook: An eighth championship would send De La Salle into third alone for most titles won in MHSAA history. Corder and Baldarotta have been major contributors during all three recent runs, both making the all-state first team the last two seasons. Corder also has emerged as a favorite for the Mr. Soccer Award this fall, and junior Gavin Baldarotta made the all-state second team in 2025. The Pilots’ only in-state losses were to Marquette and No. 9 Detroit U-D Jesuit, and after also tying the Cubs during the regular season De La Salle defeated them in overtime in a Regional Semifinal. Mukhtar, who also coached six seasons at Fraser, is the state’s winningest in boys soccer with an overall 728-173-129 record.
Division 3
ELK RAPIDS
Record/rank: 23-1-3, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Nate Plum, 19th season (315-120-40)
League finish: First in Northern Shores Conference
Championship history: Division 4 champion 1997 and 1998, four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jake Garrow, sr. D (3 goals, 4 assists); Mason Hilley, sr. F (19 goals, 15 assists); Drew Plum, sr. M (13 goals, 13 assists); Tyler Standfest, sr. M (28 goals, 14 assists).
Outlook: Nate Plum brought Elk Rapids back to the Finals in 2024 for the first time since 1998, and after falling to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 3-2 that day the Elks will attempt to finish the season with their first title in nearly three decades. Keyed in part by senior keepers Corbin Bogard and Caden Schlicker, they’ve given up only six goals over 27 games, and their shutout streak of 14 is the third-longest all-time. Standfest made the all-state first team last season, while Garrow and Drew Plum made the second team and Hilley made the third. Juniors Blake Springstead (12) and Noah Liggett (10) also entered the week with double-digit goals.
WILLIAMSTON
Record/rank: 12-8-4, unranked
Michigan Power Rating: No. 25
Coach: Ian Kurth, fifth season (55-43-9)
League finish: Fourth in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Players to watch: Noah Bazil, jr. F (8 goals); Yasser Daik, sr. F (7 goals, 8 assists); Lincoln Rockafellow, sr. D (2 goals, 12 assists); Beckam Harbert, sr. K (1.47 goals-against average, 10 shutouts).
Outlook: Williamston has been on a remarkable run. The Hornets went 1-6-3 from the end of August – starting with the loss to Elk Rapids – through the first day of October, but have since won their last eight games with their last four over No. 11 Eaton Rapids, No. 15 Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 3 Flint Powers Catholic and No. 14 Grosse Ile. Williamston has outscored its six postseason opponents by a combined 17-3 margin on the way to a third District title over the last four seasons and second Regional championship over the last three years.
Division 4
GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 21-0, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: David Dwaihy, 12th season (177-38-13)
League finish: First in CHSL Intersectional #1
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 1999), five runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Liam Gady, soph. F (15 goals, 11 assists); Brady Ancona, sr. F (19 goals, 12 assists); Oliver Cooley, sr. M (18 goals, 10 assists); Brenden Logan, soph. F (16 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: Last season’s runner-up is back after falling to Leland in a shootout a year ago, and the Knights earned this opportunity with a shootout win over No. 14 Clarkston Everest Collegiate on Wednesday. Liggett otherwise hasn’t given up a goal in four postseason games and has 11 shutouts total. The Knights defeated No. 9 Allen Park Inter-City Baptist and No. 8 Hillsdale Academy during their Regional run. Cooley made the all-state first team last season, and Ancona made the third. Five more players entered the week with at least 10 points, including senior Landon Wysocki (6 goals/10 assists) and sophomore Will Lynn (4/10).
MUSKEGON WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 20-1-3, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Ben Buursma, seventh season (106-39-17)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: 10 MHSAA titles (most recent 2024), seven runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Braedon Hoffman, sr. F/M (14 goals, 9 assists); Tyson Annema, sr. M (14 goals, 3 assists); Hudson Fair, sr. M/F (9 goals, 19 assists); Carter Heimiller, sr. M (13 goals, 17 assists).
Outlook: Western Michigan Christian has the second-most championships in state history in this sport and will attempt to win its fourth in five seasons after falling in its District Final a year ago. The Warriors avenged that loss in defeating No. 10 North Muskegon in this season’s District Final, and their only defeat this fall came to Division 2 No. 5 Holland. WMC also downed No. 6 Leland and No. 3 Kalamazoo Christian during this playoff run. Heimiller made the all-state first team last season, Hudson and Annema made the second, and Hoffman and senior defender Seth Moorhead (8 goals/3 assists) earned honorable mentions in 2025.
PHOTO Livonia Stevenson's Jack Bowen (10) pushes play upfield during his team's 2-0 Regional Semifinal win over Hartland. (Photo by Adam Sheehan.)
Performance: FHN's Jonathan Kliewer
September 28, 2018
Jonathan Kliewer
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern junior – Soccer
The junior goalkeeper had eight saves – a number of them “brilliant” according to a Grand Rapids Press report – to lead the Division 2 top-ranked Huskies to a 1-0 win over No. 2 Grand Rapids Christian on Sept. 17, earning Kliewer the Michigan Army National Guard Performance of the Week. The win also avenged last season’s Regional Semifinal loss to the Eagles, while providing a confidence boost as Forest Hills Northern pursues its first MHSAA championship in boys soccer.
The Huskies are 13-0-1 with 11 shutouts this season, and Kliewer has nine of those shutouts in goal while playing in the field for the other two. Heading into Thursday’s 2-2 tie against Grand Rapids Northview, he’d saved 93.8 percent of shots he’d faced in goal this season with a 0.27 goals-against average; FHN has outscored its opponents by a combined 57-5. Kliewer was the varsity backup as a freshman and then split starts last fall with Carter Clark. The keepers agreed early last season that whoever had better statistics would receive the team’s all-state push, and Carter ended up with a slight edge and all-state honorable mention – although FHN coach Daniel Siminski said both keepers performed at that elite level. They were set to split starts again this fall, at least during the regular season, but Clark was injured in August and Kliewer has taken over fulltime.
After playing in a summer tournament in Spain, Kliewer received an invitation to join the academy for the German Bundesliga’s Werder Bremen, but he elected to return to the U.S. and finish high school. He’s grown nearly six inches since freshman year and is pushing 6-foot-4, and more soccer opportunities surely are on the way. He also carries a 3.8-4.0 weighted grade-point average and is interested in studying chemical engineering or business after high school. Those decisions will be made later; in the meantime, he's hoping to help FHN to a historic finish.
Coach Daniel Siminski said: “Jon is a very tall and athletic goalie. He is a vocal leader out of the backfield that owns the box even in heavy traffic. This year, he has improved exponentially by also showing up in fantastic shape, which has helped with agility and range. He has shed the baby pudge and now looks like a chiseled statue back there. Overall, he does not have a lot of holes in his game, and he has been a fantastic last line of defense when things break down defensively. Between his stellar play, and the great play of our defense, we’ve only given up three goals on the season.”
Performance Point: “What I think was probably the best part was how the team came together,” Kliewer said of the Grand Rapids Christian win. “It was obviously a close game, and we knew that Grand Rapids Christian was really good. But we knew that we were better, and we came out and performed super well. … I was pretty pumped up because they kicked us out of Regionals last year. A lot of people probably don’t think playing them midseason is a big deal, but I think it was a big deal for our team, just to prove to ourselves that we can win state championships this year if we put our hearts into it. I think it’s going to really matter if we play them in Regionals this year; we can reflect back on that win and say we beat them that time, so we can beat them again.”
Last line of defense: “It’s been tough, but also a challenge that I really want to step up (and meet). It’s a lot of fun playing for the team, but when it comes to games there’s a lot of pressure to perform well. I deal well with that pressure, but I also need to work to get better. It’s a challenge I like.”
Prepared to play: “I came in (this fall) and I really wanted the starting position. I thought to myself, I don’t want to give Coach any reason to tell me I’m not good enough – so I’m going to get in shape, do everything as good or better than the field players running-wise and getting in shape. And then I also did some special training over the summer with a goalkeeper coach out in Detroit, just to get back into the routine of playing goalie.”
Standing tall: “I grew a lot since my freshman year, over my sophomore year, and just getting used to my new body. Getting up off the ground is a lot harder. It’s a lot more distance to cover. But (being taller) also helps in the air because I can come out and grab a lot of stuff faster, and I’m taller so I can come out and punch the ball, stuff like that.”
Trophy time: “(Winning the Division 2 title) would just mean the world to me right now. We’ve really bonded with the seniors, and they really want to win it. Coach really wants to win it – he’s gotten super close multiple times. We really have a good team this year, and that’s pretty much all we’ve been talking about. It would just mean a lot to us, honestly, as a whole team.”
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2018-19 school year, Second Half and the Michigan Army National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Past 2018-19 honorees
September 20: Kiera Lasky, Bronson volleyball - Read
September 13: Judy Rector, Hanover-Horton cross country - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Forest Hills Northern's Jonathan Kliewer dives to make a stop. (Middle) Kliewer goes high as opposing strikers converge on the net. (Photos courtesy of the Forest Hills Northern soccer program.)