D2 Soccer Final: Marian Takes Top Spot
June 16, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
WILLIAMSTON – Bloomfield Hills Marian seniors Makenzie Larson, Alexa Finger and Hanna Pateryn were set to give everything they had this season, their last of high school soccer.
But after graduating 13 players from the 2011 team, and then adding six freshmen, the trio had no idea what they were getting themselves into this spring.
Turns out, it was a third MHSAA championship in four seasons.
Thanks in part to two goals by one of those freshmen, midfielder Kelly Sweeney, Marian downed reigning champion Plainwell 3-1 in Saturday’s Division 2 Final.
“Just to come back with all these freshmen; they worked so hard to keep these three seniors around to the very end,” Larson said. “All these underclassmen that stepped up for us, they brought so much energy to the team. They did an amazing job.”
Larson and Finger were on the Mustangs for all three championships, while Pateryn joined for the 2010 win. Total, Marian has won four MHSAA titles, all over the last decade.
The Mustangs (22-2-1) also had two sophomores this season. One, midfielder Julia Griessmann, got her team on the board 7:55 into the game.
The chances kept coming for both teams. Total, Marian outshot Plainwell 13-10, but the Mustangs capitalized with Sweeney’s two goals during the first nine minutes of the second half.
The Trojans (21-3-2) – which returned 15 players from last season’s title-winning team – did get on the board on junior Hope Pell’s goal with just less than 22 minutes to play. But they couldn’t come up with enough opportunities down the stretch to make it closer.
“I love my group,” Plainwell coach Chad Wiseman said. “They battled from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. We had some chances, and in a state title game you’ve probably got to capitalize on those chances.”
Larson has signed to play next season at Loyola University of California. Pateryn has signed to play at Northern Kentucky, while Finger will go to Butler University on an academic scholarship. The multitude of juniors and underclassmen certainly played a large part in this championship, but coach Barry Brodsky said it came down to the leadership of his three seniors coming off last season’s District opener loss.
“We made a point as a coaching staff to really stay on the seniors we have. These are quality kids and they bought in," he said. “If the seniors don’t buy in, you’re not going anywhere. But from the first day until last night at practice, they were all in 100 percent of the time.”
PHOTO: Bloomfield Hills Marian's Mackenzie Pohlman (13) battles for the ball with Plainwell's Makenzie Evers during Saturday's Division 2 Final at Williamston High School.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central Captures Long Sought-After Moment with 1st Finals Win
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2025
EAST LANSING – Friday was a long time coming for Grand Rapids Catholic Central girls soccer coach Genevieve Sander.
After 19 years with the program, and more than 200 victories as a coach, Sandner and the Cougars finally won their first MHSAA Finals title, besting Warren Regina 2-0 in the Division 3 championship match at DeMartin Soccer Complex on the campus of Michigan State University.
“It’s been a dream of mine for 19 years, and this team has really grown. They’re a family, on and off the field, and I think that’s what makes a really solid team,” Sandner said. “The journey has really been incredible. I can’t say enough. They knew what they wanted from the beginning of the season, to get to this moment.”
The win was a product of a balanced effort that has been a staple for Grand Rapids Catholic Central (13-8-2) this season.
What wasn’t typical has how the Cougars scored their two goals.
Both came off restarts, one off a corner kick in the first half, while the second came off a free kick in the second half. That’s something Sandner said wasn’t typical of her team in 2025.
“It’s so random,” Sandner said. “We watched film and knew there was opportunities for corner kicks with (Regina), and that we had to be hungry in the box. I am proud that the girls answered and responded the way they did. I am glad they were hungry for the goal.”
Midway through the first half, GRCC got on the board off a corner kick from senior Sophia Piccione. The Cougars had a header attempt from senior Maurine Schneider deflected by the Regina goalie, but the Saddlelites (7-6-6) couldn’t collect the ball. It found the foot of junior Grace McKinney, who put it in for her ninth goal of the season.
“It was a great corner kick from Sophia, and then we had a header that the goalie bobbled and I was just in the right spot at the right time,” McKinney said of her goal. “It was meant to be.”
In the second half, just 10 minutes in, Piccione had a free kick from the right side of the field, just outside the box. Her attempt deflected off the Regina goalie, who was battling for position. This time the deflection came to Schneider, who blasted in her team-high 12th goal of 2025.
“I saw the opportunity coming from the corner, and I knew I had to put it in,” Schneider said. “We were up 1-0, but that’s not enough, and I knew I was going to have a good look. I just slammed the ball as hard as I could.”
Down a pair of goals, Regina turned up the offensive pressure. It registered four corner kicks over the next five minutes of play, but none resulted in a goal.
“The girls played well; we conceded a few goals on a corner and a set play. It’s tough. We didn’t quite finish in the attacking third,” Regina coach Stefano Moraccini said. “Nobody had us here in the Final. I am super proud of them.”
The Cougars also had standout play from its back line. Juniors Georgie Brown, Halina Polak, and Alyssa Yost joined sophomore Allison Malinowski to help keepers Charlie Walker and Natalie Beachler combine to record the team’s fourth consecutive shutout.
“Our back line has been very consistent for us all year, especially the latter part of the season. They just really work well together and back each other up so well,” Sandner said. “They’re all coming back, which is great. You want a strong back line coming back.”
Regina will be returning several key players as well, as the Saddlelites had just two seniors on the roster – although one was Jenna Moeller, who led the offensive effort in Friday’s defeat with four shots. Juniors Maddy Steffani and Ava Janusch both had three shots.
PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Grace McKinney is surrounded by a pair of Warren Regina defenders including Ava Janusch (9) during Friday’s Division 3 Final. (Middle) Regina’s Nia Guess (14) controls possession as two GRCC defenders approach including Emma Mead (18). (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)