This Time, Troy Takes Champion's Trophy
June 15, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
WILLIAMSTON – Alison Holland might have worried a bit after Grandville’s Sydney Blitchok scored a little more than 14 minutes into Saturday’s Division 1 Final at Williamston.
Holland, Troy’s senior goalkeeper, would even admit to that – given that Troy was making its third straight MHSAA championship game appearance and was shut out in their last two.
But that anxiety faded almost immediately. This team was “gutsy,” Holland said, and she knew her teammates would get chances to even the score.
The Colts were able to make good on two – and beat Grandville 2-1 to claim their first MHSAA title since 2003.
“Twice we didn’t win it, so we were all just so motivated this year,” Holland said. “We wanted to go out on a good note, and we’re going to have this forever with each other. It’s just a great time right now.”
Troy had fallen to Okemos 2-0 in last season’s Final and 1-0 to Novi in 2010.
But those became fading memories Saturday when senior Madison Hirsch evened the score 18:25 into the first half and senior Kayla Porter put Troy ahead 13:31 into the second.
Porter's goal led to an uproarious celebration near the Colts bench, mostly in response to previous teasing by coach Brian Zawislak – who had told his players they didn’t celebrate goals like they should because they weren’t getting the entire team involved.
“When you’re held scoreless the last two (Finals), you have those demons in you,” Zawislak said. “When Hirsch hits the back of the net, everyone’s spirits just lifted.”
Porter’s goal run likely included a little unloading of frustration after battling a physical Grandville defense for nearly three quarters of the game.
Once Hirsch put in the team’s first goal, Porter wanted to add the next.
“I had a lot of energy out there, and I wanted to score,” she said. “It was really running through my mind. So when I got the ball down there, I just ran, and I just shot it.”
Troy finished this season 15-6-3 after opening 3-6-2. Grandville finished 14-8-1. Both teams were unranked entering the postseason and neither finished among the top two in their respective leagues.
But both beat top-10 teams on the way to Williamston and obviously found their peak performance when it counted most.
“I just told them nobody imagined at the beginning of the year that we’d be anywhere close to here,” Grandville coach Lewis Robinson said. “It gives them the experience of being here and helps us a lot for next year. And (I) guarantee we’ll be back in and around this time of year next year and the year after as well. With 13 underclassmen on the team, the future is very bright.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Troy players celebrate the team’s go-head goal during the second half of Saturday’s Division 2 Final. (Middle) Colts senior Kayla Porter finishes a run with a shot that would give her team the 2-1 lead. (Click to see more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Country Day Dominates Offensively, but Dominant Defense Sets Tone in Title Clincher
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2026
EAST LANSING – Detroit Country Day collected its seventh MHSAA girls soccer state championship Saturday with a 1-0 win over Grand Rapids West Catholic in the Division 3 Final at DeMartin Field.
The Yellowjackets (14-4-3) held a sizable advantage in most key offensive stats, but the Falcons (18-6-2) remained within reach until the final seconds.
In the end, it was a dominant defensive effort, led by senior captain Jenna Shaban, that carried Country Day to its first championship since 2021.
“It’s Jenna Shaban leading the back line,” Yellowjackets coach Laura Hamway said. “There were minimal opportunities going at the goal because she’s collected and she understands pressure-cover-balance. She gives room for her teammates to make mistakes and steps in when needed.”
Country Day had a pretty young attack spark the lone goal, but the veteran defense of Shaban, senior Isabella Schimizzi and juniors Charlotte Duross and Julia Goetz pushed the Yellowjackets to the victory.
“Julia next to (Shaban) was outstanding the last two games, and then Charlotte and Bella’s ability to release at times and play the direct ball when needed,” Hamway added. “The back line just did a beautiful job recognizing if there is space and can we build, or did we need to go direct.”
The first 20 minutes were back-and-forth before Country Day started to develop stronger offensive opportunities.
In the 31st minute of play, sophomore Scarlett Lossia played a ball that went over the top of a pair of West Catholic defenders and found the foot of freshman Aliya Saad. Saad then played a perfect lob over the Falcons’ keeper that found the back of the net.
“The adrenaline was really pumping, and my teammate Scarlet played a really good ball over the top. I just saw it skim the center back’s head and I saw the goalie coming out, and knew I just had to put it over the top,” Saad said of her goal. “I just got my foot right there and stuck it to the laces, and it went right where I wanted.”
Hamway had a lot of praise for the intelligent shot that Saad played, showing the maturity of an upperclassman as opposed to a freshman.
“She can get in the seam, and we can play into her feet,” Hamway said of Saad. “She recognizes when she’s got to go back and cross-field dribble. She has so much confidence for a freshman. It’s rare for a kid to be creative, physically enough, and put a ball in the back of the net.
The goal was the only one to get past West Catholic senior keeper Katelyn Adams, who put up a strong effort in net.
Country Day put on even more pressure in the second half, but Adams shut the door on some great looks.
“She made some huge saves in the second half,” Falcons coach Ryan Smith said of Adams, who finished with seven saves in the match. “We went into a three-back and we pushed up and left some one-on-ones back there, and she made some huge saves.”
Country Day finished with a 15-1 shot advantage and had a 12-1 edge in corner kicks for the match. Hamway credited junior Georgia Hopkins, senior Ava Amezcua, junior Megan Mateer, and Lossia for their ball control as the reason for the offensive edge.
“Georgia really controls the game on offense. She wins all those flooded balls,” Hamway said. “Ava was in underneath, and it allowed Megan and Scarlett to be creative in the space out wide today.”
Despite the opportunities, West Catholic was never out of it. They had a few opportunities in Country Day territory during the closing minutes, but couldn’t put a shot on goal.
“(DCD) was good, obviously. They were super skilled,” Smith said. “They had some size that was tough for us to match, and they were a little deeper. Our girls battled to the end. We had it down with those long throws, so we gave it everything we had.”
The Falcons were appearing in their first Final on Saturday, and Smith beamed about the incredible run his team had this spring, including its first Regional championship.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. When I started here 10 years ago, and as a head coach seven years ago, we wanted to build a program. We’ve had so many teams come through here that have helped lay the foundation. I said to the girls, ‘You set the bar almost as high as you can,’” Smith said. “The last three months and the last three weeks of the playoffs was a heck of a ride.”
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Country Day’s Megan Mateer (21) and Aliya Saad (22) enjoy a moment during their team’s Division 3 championship win Saturday at DeMartin Stadium. (Middle) Mateer controls possession while Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Elise Savickas (6) pursues. (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)