Moment: Winner Adds to Heyboer Legend
May 4, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We kick off our girls soccer week of #MHSAA Moments with one of the brightest stars in MHSAA history.
Laura Heyboer graduated from Hudsonville Unity Christian in 2008 with 167 goals, and she remains tied for sixth-most over a career all-time. Certainly, the last she netted to finish her junior season was among the most memorable.
With the 2007 Division 3 Final against Flint Powers Catholic tied 2-2, Unity’s Mindy Capisciolto took possession of a short Powers goalie kick and moments later sent in a cross that Heyboer collected in front of two defenders. Heyboer then sent home the game winner 7:25 into extra time to give the Crusaders a 3-2 win, their third-straight Division 3 title and 82nd straight win.
Heyboer scored all three of her team's goals in the Final. She'd also score the overtime game-winner in the 2008 Final against Williamston.
Unity’s title streak would reach six seasons, though 2010. Its winning streak would stretch to 86 games the following season, as the team won its first four games of 2008 before tying the fifth. The Crusaders also still hold the unbeaten games streak of 98, building to 97-0-1 before suffering a defeat that spring.
Heyboer would go on to set the career scoring record at Michigan State and play professionally and for the U.S. U-23 national team. She currently coaches at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. Capisciolto played at Calvin College.
Read more about the 2007 championship game from the Grand Rapids Press and watch the winner below from the MHSAA Network.
D1 Soccer Final: Chieftains and Champions
June 16, 2012
EAST LANSING – Okemos’ multiple offensive standouts have made it one of the best teams in Michigan all spring and one of the highest ranked in Division 1, coming into the MHSAA tournament No. 2 in the state coaches poll.
But senior goalkeeper Molly O’Connor also had a big part to play in her final high school game.
O’Connor had given up only six goals in 23 games heading into this week. And she picked up her 19th shutout as the Chieftains beat No. 8 Troy 2-0 at Michigan State. She stopped nine shots on goal.
So did Troy junior Alison Holland, but Okemos still managed to push across a goal apiece in both the first and second halves – junior Emma Baker 27:56 into the game and senior Sarah Kovan 9:13 into the second half.
Okemos finished 24-1-1. The Final was the Chieftains’ third, and the title its second to go along with the championship won in 2006.
Troy (19-3-3) was playing in its sixth Final, and finished runner-up for the second straight season after falling to Novi 1-0 in 2011.
PHOTO: Okemos’ Emma Baker (23) celebrates as her first-half goal lands in the net during Saturday’s Division 1 Final.