Preview: Champs Seek to Extend Streaks
June 11, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The setting is new – at least somewhat – as the MHSAA Girls Soccer Finals return to Michigan State University this spring for the first time since 2012. The format is new, as two Finals will be played Friday and Saturday.
But most of the favorites are familiar as three teams compete to repeat as champions.
Grandville Calvin Christian is playing for its fourth straight title in Division 4, while Richland Gull Lake is looking to make it three straight in Division 2 and Hudsonville Unity Christian is playing for its second straight title but ninth total overall.
The narrative is the opposite in Division 1, where both teams are playing for the first title in program history.
Below is this weekend’s schedule, followed by glances at all eight finalists.
Friday
Hudsonville Unity Christian vs. Detroit Country Day, 1 p.m.
Richland Gull Lake vs. Fenton, 4 p.m.
Saturday
Grandville Calvin Christian vs. Lansing Christian, 1 p.m.
Saline vs. Grand Blanc, 4 p.m.
Tickets cost $8 per day and include admission to baseball and softball games that day also at MSU’s Old College Field. Radio broadcasts of all games can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All games will be streamed live online at MHSAA.TV and viewable on subscription basis.
All statistics below are through at least the regular season, with most through teams' Regionals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
DIVISION 1
GRAND BLANC
Record/rank: 18-5-5, unranked
Coach: Greg Kehler, 17th season (260-80-47)
League finish: Third in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West.
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2004.
Players to watch: Annie Walker, sr. F (29 goals, 10 assists), Lara Wheeler, fr. F (17 goals, 5 assists); Amy Puidokas, jr. GK (0.60 goals-against average, 8 shutouts).
Outlook: Grand Blanc is on its best tournament run since making the Semifinals in 2005 after eliminating No. 1 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, No. 10 Northville and then No. 5 Troy Athens in its last three games. Walker made the all-state first team last season and is again the scorer to stop, with 2014 all-state honorable mention Lexi Trudeau, a junior, among those moving the ball into striking position.
SALINE
Record/rank: 21-0-3, No. 6
Coach: Dana Restrick, sixth season (record at school N/A)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference Red.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Sofia Sweier, sr. GK (0.17 goals-against average, 20 shutouts); Taylor Mulder, sr. F (41 goals, 11 assists); Amanda Zylstra, sr. D (3 goals, 5 assists).
Outlook: Saline is 40-3-6 over the last two seasons and won its first Regional title last week. No. 3 East Kentwood in the Quarterfinal was the eighth straight opponent to be shut out by the Hornets, who have given up only four goals this season. Sweier and Zylstra made the all-state second team last season, and Mulder made the third.
DIVISION 2
FENTON
Record/rank: 15-4-3, honorable mention
Coach: Matt Sullivan, 11th season (record at school N/A)
League finish: Second in Flint Metro League.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brennan Sullivan, sr. M (1 goal, 3 assists); Brianna Costigan, jr. M (9 goals, 11 assists); Abigail Quesnelle, soph. GK (0.60 goals-against average, 14 shutouts).
Outlook: Fenton has reached the Semifinals three of the last seven seasons, but after two one-goal heartbreak losses that ended those first two trips, broke through by beating No. 6 Trenton this week. The Tigers also eliminated No. 4 Warren Regina and No. 8 Linden during the tournament and have won 11 of their last 12 games. Fenton scored 26 goals during the regular season, but has put 17 in the net in six tournament games. Costigan made the all-state second team last season, and Sullivan earned an honorable mention.
RICHLAND GULL LAKE
Record/rank: 24-1-1, No. 2
Coach: Jeff Corstange, fourth season (82-8-4)
League finish: First in Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference East.
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Hannah Phommavongsa, sr. F (16 goals, 8 assists); Amanda Pavletic, sr. M (14 goals, 8 assists); Olivia Sullivan, sr. D (1 goal, 4 assists); Kirsten Taylor, sr. F (24 goals, 11 assists).
Outlook: Gull Lake has won two straight MHSAA championships and is loaded with veterans as it goes for a third. Taylor made the all-state third team last season, and Phommavongsa, Sullivan and Pavletic earned honorable mentions. Gull Lake defeated No. 10 DeWitt and honorable mention Middleville Thornapple Kellogg during this run, with the lone loss by a goal midseason to Division 1 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central. Junior keeper Regan Troff took over in net this spring and has saved 96 percent of the shots against her.
DIVISION 3
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/rank: 18-3-2, No. 3
Coach: Bob Bukari, 29th season (record at school N/A)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2004), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Isabel Nino, soph. D/GK; Jenna Staudt, sr. D/M; Dagny Hill, soph. M; Libby Ronchetto, sr. M/D (Statistics not submitted).
Outlook: Country Day has finished runner-up three times since its last title, but has plenty of key players who experienced last season’s run. Hill and Staudt made the all-state second team in 2014, Nino made the third and Ronchetto earned honorable mention. The Yellowjackets eliminated No. 6 Grosse Ile and then edged No. 2 Flint Powers Catholic in a shootout to advance to this weekend.
HUDSONVILLE UNITY CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 23-1, No. 1
Coach: Randy Heethuis, 26th season (487-87-28)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Green.
Championship history: Eight MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Bethany Balcer, sr. M (38 goals, 13 assists); Maddy VanDyke, jr. D (5 goals, 2 assists); Casandra Besteman, sr. M (3 goals, 3 assists); Elly Brummel, sr. D (4 goals, 5 assists).
Outlook: Unity Christian bounced back from a rare Finals miss by winning its eighth title last spring and second in three seasons. Unity Christian downed the reigning champion, Grand Rapids South Christian, in the Regional Final and also eliminated No. 4 Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Balcer – one of five players with at least 10 goals – and VanDyke are returning all-state first-teamers, while Brummel made the second team and Besteman earned honorable mention.
DIVISION 4
GRANDVILLE CALVIN CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 21-3, No. 2
Coach: Tim TerHaar, 15th season (255-64-20)
League finish: First in O-K Silver.
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Players to watch: Allison Keizer, sr. GK (0.88 goals-against average, 14 shutouts); Morgan Buursma, sr. D (20 goals, 4 assists); Hilary Curry, sr. M (24 goals, 16 assists); Emily VanVliet, sr. M (11 goals, 26 assists).
Outlook: Calvin Christian can become just the second team in MHSAA history to win four straight girls soccer championships, following the Unity Christian teams of 2005-10. Keizer and Buursma made the all-state first team last season, while Curry made the third team and VanVliet earned honorable mention. Four Calvin Christian players have scored at least 20 goals this season – junior forwards Whitney Koets (28) and Natalie Honeycutt (22) are the other two.
LANSING CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 20-4, honorable mention
Coach: Joel Vande Kopple, ninth season (129-41-9)
League finish: Tied for first in Greater Lansing Activities Conference.
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2011.
Players to watch: Kasey Jamieson, fr. F (47 goals, 15 assists); Emily Voss, sr. F (27 goals, 16 assists); Rachelle Trafford, sr. GK (0.74 goals-against average, 15 shutouts).
Outlook: Lansing Christian has reached at least the Semifinals four of the last five seasons, giving the Pilgrims as much late-round experience as most left this weekend. Voss made the all-state third team in 2014 and provides an excellent one-two scoring punch with Jamieson, who also had both goals in the Semifinal win over Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett to push her first-season total to 49.
PHOTO: Grandville Calvin Christian's Emily VanVliet controls possession during last season's Division 4 Final win.
Sister Pairs Help Bath Soccer Make Strides with 1st League, District Championships
By
Christine McCallister
Special for MHSAA.com
July 27, 2026
Although it still happens here and there, there once was a time – especially in small towns – when it wasn’t unusual to see multiple siblings on the same high school team.
Part of that was practical. Families were often larger. Opportunities looked different.
But part of it was something deeper: community, continuity, and kids growing up together, not just in school, but in sports.
This spring, the Bath girls soccer team saw it come full circle. The Bees – who finished 15-2 and won Central Michigan Athletic Conference and Division 4 District championships under coach Sarah Murdoch – did so with five sets of siblings on their roster.
From freshmen to seniors, the five sets of sisters weren’t just on the same team – they were actively playing, contributing, and sharing the field together every single game.
“It has been something really amazing,” Bath assistant coach Megan Cook shared along the way. “I think it is really fun to watch how they push and support their siblings in their own unique way.”
The league and District titles were both program firsts for the Bees. Among those taking the field during the historic run were the following:
- The Kotch sisters – senior Angelynn and junior Electra.
- The Hamilton sisters – sophomore Sophia and freshman Ashlyn.
- The Barber sisters – senior Braelynn and freshman Jaydin.
- The Schneider sisters – junior Emily and freshman Isabella.
- The Montri sisters – senior Lydia and freshman Allie.
Together, they helped create a team dynamic that included younger sisters stepping into spaces they’d watched for years, and older sisters leading by example on an off the field. The families had spent seasons together in a way that went by too fast, as part of a program that has created room for connection and not just competition.
There’s something powerful about sharing the same jersey, the same sidelines, the same wins and losses, with someone who knows you beyond the game.
What does it actually look like when five sets of siblings share the same field?
From warm-ups to drills to scrimmages, there’s a rhythm that’s a little different, and a little special. There’s built-in communication, quick understanding, and a level of trust that doesn’t need to be taught.
There’s a balance between familiarity and competition. Cook explained that each sibling set brought different personalities and energy to the field, which helped the athletes grow individually while still sharing that family connection.
“I believe the success of the girls soccer program can be directly attributed to the family atmosphere cultivated at the youth level. We’re very fortunate to have people like Steve Torok who work tirelessly to promote soccer at the youth level,” Bath athletic director Eric Harrelson said. “Younger sisters can see what a positive impact soccer has on their siblings and want to be a part of the program. Many of the younger sisters have watched their older sisters from the sidelines as ball shaggers and aspire to have the same success.
“Having five sets of sisters on the same team has been quite a unique phenomenon. The sense of pride that their parents have while watching their daughters play is obvious and infectious.”
Setting examples starts early
Torok, who directs the community’s youth program, described Bath soccer as something kids grow up around long before they officially join a team.
“A lot of these kids grow up on the sidelines watching older brothers and sisters play, helping at events, kicking balls around after games, and eventually they want to be part of it too,” he explained.
“That kind of thing only happens when the environment is positive, welcoming, and fun for families year after year. To me, it really shows that Bath soccer has become more than just a sports program; it’s a community families want to stay involved with and keep coming back to.”
He also laughed about how younger sisters often end up following the same paths as their older siblings without anyone formally planning it.
“Younger sisters spend years around the fields watching games, hanging around practices, eating concession stand snacks, and tagging along to everything, so eventually they decide they want in too,” he noted.
Carolyn Hoard, who with Torok and others serves on the Bath Soccer Club board, shared that the excitement surrounding girls soccer often starts long before varsity.
She described the culture as “electric and contagious,” explaining that younger players grow up watching older girls compete, celebrate, work hard, and build friendships they hope to one day experience themselves.
“Growing up, my oldest daughter always talked about how she couldn’t wait to play on the varsity team,” Hoard shared. “Little did she know, in the background were her three little sisters watching her grow as a player and talk about her love of the game, which in return fueled their love and desire to play for BSC.”
Sisters tell their stories
When asked what it was like having a sister on the same team, the answers ranged from sweet to honest, with plenty of sisterly love mixed in.
Braelynn Barber shared that it was a good experience, even if her sister Jaydin could be a little annoying at times.
Emily Schneider described it as very eventful, while Lydia Montri said it was definitely entertaining.
Ashlyn Hamilton said it was fun, but as she passed the microphone to her goalie sister, Sophia, she admitted it could also be annoying sometimes. Sophia quickly added that it was frustrating being with your sister all day, every day.
Jaydin Barber summed it up simply as, “okay.” Meanwhile, Allie Montri said it was pretty cool.
As for their favorite memories, the answers were exactly what you might expect from a group of sisters – some funny, some sarcastic, and some simply different perspectives on the very same moment.
Jaydin Barber shared that one of her favorite memories was scoring a goal and celebrating with a hug from her sister afterward. Braelynn Barber remembered that play a little differently, laughing that she passed the ball to Jaydin, who then kicked it right to the goalie – meaning no goal and no assist.
Allie Montri’s favorite memory came with a smile as she recalled being on the verge of scoring when sister Lydia swooped in and stole the goal. Coincidentally, that was Lydia’s favorite memory too (although Lydia remembers it as a great moment and was thankful for Allie’s assist).
Ashlyn Hamilton shared that scoring a goal and celebrating with a “scuba” was one of her favorite moments of the season. Sophia Hamilton quickly pointed out that it was her favorite memory too, joking that her little sister had stolen it.
For Isabella Schneider, a favorite memory was simply seeing one another on the field and sharing sister hugs afterward. Emily Schneider agreed, saying those moments stand out for her as well, while also looking ahead and noting that there are still more memories to be made.
And when asked whether she mostly sees sisters or simply one connected team when she looks out at the field as their coach, Cook’s answer was immediate:
“One team for sure,” she said.
“This team feels like they all are sisters together. I think that dynamic has helped lead us to so much success this year.”
PHOTOS (Top) Bath players, including the Schneider sisters Emily (20) and Isabella (23), celebrate their District championship win May 31. (2) From left: Lydia Montri, Allie Montri, Jaydin Barber and Braelynn Barber. (3) Angelynn Kotch, right, jumps into sister Electra’s arms. (4) From left: Emily Schneider, Isabella Schneider, Ashlyn Hamilton and Sophia Hamilton. (Photos by Click by Christine McCallister.)