Marian's Latest Title Run Familiar & New
June 14, 2019
By Keith Dunlap
Special for Second Half
EAST LANSING – For all the success the Bloomfield Hills Marian soccer team has enjoyed over the last two decades, the 2019 Division 2 Final offered the Mustangs a chance to achieve two things for the first time.
One, Marian won three consecutive championships for the first time in school history with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern. All three of those titles have come via victories over Forest Hills Northern in the title game.
Second, Michigan State University’s DeMartin Stadium provided a new venue for Marian to win its eighth title since 2003. Marian had won its titles in Richland, Grand Rapids, Troy and Williamston, but never had appeared in a Final held at MSU.
“The last time we won two in a row, we got knocked out on the first night (of the playoffs),” Marian head coach Barry Brodsky said. “We did let them know that there has only been two Marian players since I’ve been here that have won three state championships, and they weren’t in a row. Now, we have seven or eight who have just joined those two.”
The game-winner came with 4:18 remaining in the second period of overtime, off Marian’s 12th corner kick of the game.
Marian senior Sara Stroud delivered the ball into the box, and amidst a flurry of bodies, sophomore Maria Askounis put the ball into the net to make it 2-1 Marian.
“My coaches told me to stay at the far post, and so I stayed on the far post,” Askounis said. “That’s where the ball went, and I just tapped it in. I scored last game, but not like this in the state championship. It feels amazing.”
The Mustangs were frustrated at not being able to convert any of their previous 11 corner kicks in the contest, but ultimately it was a corner kick that was good to Marian again.
Brodsky said game-winning goals in the Catholic League final and in a 1-0 District win over Detroit Country Day also came on corner kicks.
“It’s not a secret,” Brodsky said. “You play great defense and you do great on restarts, you’re going to win a lot of games.”
Marian also won despite having to play the late stages of the game without all-state Dream Team forward Jansen Eichenlaub, who will play next at University of Virginia.
Eichenlaub suffered a hamstring injury with 18 minutes left in regulation and didn’t return.
It was more heartache for Forest Hills Northern, which has frustration that stretches beyond losing to Marian three straight years in the Final.
The Huskies lost for the fourth straight time in the championship game and fifth time since 2010.
Forest Hills Northern lost in the 2016 title game to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and in the 2010 Final to Marian as well.
If there is a silver lining for the Huskies, it’s that they will graduate just two seniors.
“If we didn’t come out and play good, I would be more upset about it,” Forest Hills Northern head coach Daniel Siminski said. “It was a pretty even game I thought, which was a far cry (from) two years ago. We are getting there.”
Forest Hills Northern took a 1-0 lead with 34:21 left in the first half on a goal by sophomore Grace Sayers, who took a beautiful lead pass along the ground from junior Alyssa Greshak in the box and buried the chance inside the far post.
Marian tied the game 1-1 with 35:57 left on a goal by sophomore Emily Rassel, who pounced on a loose ball in the box and placed a shot underneath the crossbar.
Eichenlaub flicked a pass into the box to Rassel after senior Katie Sullivan placed a cross toward Eichenlaub.
Marian carried the play in overtime and had a glorious chance with six minutes left in the first extra period when two Mustangs players broke in all alone on Forest Hills Northern goalie Parker Hutchinson, who made an initial save.
But the ball ricocheted to another Marian player, who shot the ball wide with nothing but the goal in front of her.
Ultimately though, Marian got the winning goal it needed, and added more history to its already storied program.
PHOTOS: (Top) Marian hoists the championship trophy after Saturday's Division 2 Final win over Forest Hills Northern. (Middle) Megan Kraus gathers a shot for the Mustangs.
Preview: Historic Opportunities Abound as Contenders Conclude at DeMartin Stadium
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 12, 2025
The MHSAA Girls Soccer Finals have seen 18 champions also finish their seasons undefeated, the most recent in 2021.
Both Saline and Hudsonville Unity Christian have the opportunity this weekend to become the next.
And that’s not all on the all-time historical side of these two days of championships at DeMartin Stadium.
Byron Center, New Boston Huron and both Division 3 contenders – Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Warren Regina – are set to play in their first championship matches, meaning the Division 3 champion is guaranteed to be a first-time Finals winner.
Following is this weekend’s schedule at Michigan State University:
Division 1 - Saturday - 4 p.m. - Stream
Byron Center vs. Saline
Division 2 - Friday - 4 p.m. - Stream
Hudsonville Unity Christian vs. New Boston Huron
Division 3 - Friday - 1 p.m. - Stream
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Warren Regina
Division 4 - Saturday - 1 p.m. - Stream
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett
Tickets cost $11 and may be purchased online only at GoFan. One ticket is good for all soccer, softball and baseball games at MSU’s Old College Field that day. All four Finals will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv.
Below is a glance at all eight contenders, with statistics through Regionals:
Division 1
BYRON CENTER
Record/rank: 19-1-3, No. 12
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Green
Coach: John Conlon, fifth season (85-13)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Ella Alexander, soph. F (9 goals, 14 assists); Morgan Malek, sr. M (11 goals, 9 assists), Jordan Kerns, sr. D (7 goals, 2 assists), Nora Schans, fr. GK (0.30 goals-against average, 12 shutouts).
Outlook: Byron Center claimed its third Regional title under Conlon, who previously coached East Kentwood and is one of the winningest coaches in state history for both girls and boys soccer. Only No. 6 Midland, in the Regional Final, has scored against Byron Center during this MHSAA Tournament; the Bulldogs have shut out Northville, No. 3 Rockford, Grand Haven and Hudsonville. The team’s scoring has been impressively balanced with eight players netting between 7-12 goals heading into this week; freshman Bristol Collard (12) is the leading goal-scorer, and sophomore Nora Leavitt (10) is also high on the list. Kerns earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
SALINE
Record/rank: 21-0-2, No. 1
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red
Coach: Leigh Rumbold, seventh season (78-21-17)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2015.
Players to watch: Sienna Snyder, sr. D (30 goals, 9 assists); Sadie Walsh, jr. M (20 goals, 12 assists); MaKena Means, jr. D (16 goals, 5 assists); Kaylee Mitzel, soph. GK (0.23 goals-against average, 18 shutouts).
Outlook: Saline’s run to its second Final has seen plenty of offensive power, with a combined 19 goals, but the defense has been just as impressive with shutouts in all five games including against No. 13 Ann Arbor Skyline and No. 8 Troy Athens. Total, Mitzel and the Hornets have given up only five goals this season. Sophomore Laynie Tousa (12 goals/9 assists) is another top scorer, and four more teammates had found the net at least five times heading into this week. Snyder and Walsh both earned all-state honorable mentions last season. Rumbold formerly played professionally in this country and also in England and New Zealand.
Division 2
HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 21-0-2, No. 1
League finish: First in O-K Conference Black
Coach: Randy Heethuis, 36th season (663-105-44)
Championship history: 12 MHSAA titles (most recent 2024), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Ava Lutke, sr. F (28 goals, 27 assists); Kyla Kobryzcki, soph. F (15 goals, 10 assists); Ava Steen, jr. D (6 goals, 4 assists); Tessa Ponstein, jr. F (14 goals, 10 assists).
Outlook: Unity Christian is playing for a third-straight championship, and this time in Division 2 after winning Division 3 the last two years. The Crusaders have not lost in 30 games, going back more than a calendar year, and they have 19 shutouts this season including seven straight. Junior Payton Barendsen (0.10 goals-against average) and senior Kennidee Crump (0.31) have split time almost evenly in net. Lutke and Steen made the all-state first team in their former division last season, and Kobryzcki made the third.
NEW BOSTON HURON
Record/rank: 21-1-1, No. 4
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Matt Lividini, third season (39-9-7)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brooklyn Burke, jr. GK (0.50 goals-against average, 15 shutouts); Rylie Cassett, sr. F (23 goals, 25 assists); Miley Skamiera, soph. F (28 goals, 15 assists); Avery Turk, jr. F (20 goals, 9 assists).
Outlook: Huron has gone from 5-7-3 during Lividini’s first season leading the program to a combined 34-2-4 over the last two. Huron has allowed only one goals over its last seven matches, a run that’s included a 1-0 win over No. 9 DeWitt in the Semifinal. Senior Gabby Emelian is another key contributor in the midfield, with seven goals and 16 assists. Lividini played on Riverview Gabriel Richard’s 1991 Class C-D runner-up team before going on to play professionally and also compete in the Olympics in bobsled for San Marino.
Division 3
GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 12-8-2, No. 7
League finish: Sixth in O-K White
Coach: Genevieve Sandner, 19th season (209-132-34)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Natalie Beachler, sr. GK (1.53 goals-against average, .753 save %); Maris Klein, sr. M (11 goals, 7 assists); Maurine Schneider, sr. M (11 goals, 9 assists); Emma Mead, sr. F (10 goals, 3 assists).
Outlook: Grand Rapids Catholic Central is riding a three-game shutout streak that included a 3-0 Regional Final win over No. 10 Traverse City St. Francis. The Cougars played in the same league as three top-14 teams from Division 2 and emerged from a 1-7-1 run midway through the season and defeated Division 2 No. 7 Forest Hills Central heading into the playoffs. Mead earned all-state honorable mention last season, and Sandner returned this spring after two away from the program she began leading in 2005.
WARREN REGINA
Record/rank: 7-5-6, No. 11
League finish: Fourth in Catholic High School League Central
Coach: Stefano Moraccini, ninth season (record N/A).
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Jenna Moeller, sr. D/M/F; Ava Janusch, jr. M/F; Anna Booms, fr. D/M; Kate Booms, jr. D/M. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Regina advanced to its first Semifinal since 2019 and now will play in its first championship game. The Saddlelites haven’t given up more than one goal in any of five playoff matches, and they’ve defeated No. 2 Detroit Country Day, No. 8 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and No. 14 Ann Arbor Greenhills along the way. Moeller earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
Division 4
GROSSE POINTE WOODS UNIVERSITY LIGGETT
Record/rank: 14-3-4, No. 5
League finish: Tied for fourth in CHSL AA
Coach: David Dwaihy, 17th season (188-103-14)
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2016 and 2005.
Players to watch: Aline Rahaim, soph. GK (1.00 goals-against average, 8 shutouts); Aubrey Hermann, soph. M (7 goals, 7 assists); Jasmine Diaz-Don, jr. M (4 goals, 8 assists); Kerith Short, sr. M (13 goals, 11 assists).
Outlook: Liggett won its second Regional title in three seasons this spring and jumped from finishing 8-8 overall a year ago, navigating an impressive playoffs that’s included wins over No. 2 Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, No. 9 Plymouth Christian Academy, No. 10 Clarkston Everest Collegiate and No. 12 Madison Heights Bishop Foley. Three of the team’s eight shutouts have come during the postseason. Six seniors anchor the lineup, with Short a returning all-state third-team selection from a year ago.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 17-4-2, No. 4
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Coach: Jay Allen, 11th season (184-43-15)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), five runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Maysen Steensma, sr. D; Izzy Suloff, jr. M; Jordyn Bonnema, sr. M; Emily Gorton, jr. F. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Kalamazoo Christian will play in its fourth-straight Division 4 championship game, having finished runner-up both in 2022 and last year in a shootout defeat to Jackson Lumen Christi to go with its 2023 title clincher. The Comets have defeated top-ranked Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, No. 7 Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central and No. 14 Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep during this run, and also avenged last year’s Lumen Christi loss in an April rematch. Steensma and Bonnema made the all-state first team last season.
PHOTO Kalamazoo Christian’s Emily Gorton controls possession during last season’s Division 4 championship match.