Unity Christian Stacks 4th-Straight Finals Title, 24th-Straight Postseason Shutout
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2026
EAST LANSING – The unblemished championship run of Hudsonville Unity Christian continues.
The Crusaders completed their fourth-consecutive playoff run without allowing a single goal Saturday, this time defeating Bloomfield Hills Marian 2-0 in the Division 2 championship match at DeMartin Field.
“It’s a credit to the girls,” Unity Christian coach Randy Heethuis said of the recent run and 14th title in program history. “I know it is a cliché, but we just play one game at a time. Next game, next team up and let’s put our best foot forward and let’s do what we do, and what Unity soccer does. They know the prescription for success and they were able to carry it out, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Unity Christian (24-0) has claimed its second-straight D2 title after winning the Division 3 championships in 2023 and 2024. In all four cases, the Crusaders didn’t allow their opponents to get on the scoreboard throughout all six postseason matches.
This time, the Crusaders allowed just one goal for the entire season, matching an MHSAA record previously set by Livonia Stevenson in 1997.
On top of all that, Unity Christian has now gone 55 consecutive matches without being defeated, a run dating back to May 22, 2024.
“I’m not sure how much they are really aware or think about records or streaks or this, that, and the other thing,” Heethuis said of all his team’s accomplishments this season.
Marian (21-3) knew the lore Unity Christian had created for itself, but the Mustangs were appearing in their 15th MHSAA Final, seeking their 10th title in program history.
They survived the early charge from the Crusaders and started to turn the momentum of the match in their favor midway through the first half.
“We didn’t start quickly enough. That pressure that (Unity Christian) put us under in the first 5-10 minutes, we rode it. We rode that pressure,” Marian coach Danny Price said. “I felt like we defended well through it and then sort of grew into the game a little bit.”
The Mustangs thought they may have had the first goal 30 minutes in when junior Nia Bordogna put a shot that went off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced near the goal line before Unity Christian senior goalie Payton Barendsen corralled it.
“It that goes in, their record is gone. It changes the game and puts them under a little bit more pressure,” Price said of the near-goal. “Now somebody’s scored on (them) and they’ve conceded (a goal) in the Final. So, I felt the momentum swing a little bit after that.”
Just five minutes later, the Crusaders would get the first goal of the game. Senior Kiersten Witte made a run toward the net and collided with a pair of Mustangs, including keeper Caitlyn Curtis. The ball trickled over to the foot of junior Myla Obande, who casually put it into the back of a wide-open net to make it 1-0.
“I just knew that this shot had to go in and when I hit it, the ball was rolling so slowly, it felt like it took forever to go in,” Obande said. “When it went in, I was so relieved, and so happy. I just wanted to help the team get the job done.”
With three minutes left in the half, Unity Christian junior Kyla Kobrzycki got in open field and charged toward the Marian goal. She played a shot that hit the right-side post, but then landed on the foot of senior teammate Tessa Ponstein for another goal to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Marian made Unity Christian earn the shutout. Barendsen recorded five saves in the match, including a pair of diving saves during the final 40 minutes.
Not to be outdone, Marian’s Curtis, a freshman, tallied 10 saves as she kept the Crusaders from building on their lead.
“She was brilliant,” Price said of Curtis. “She made some cracking saves. She’s just fantastic. She’s a good kid and she reads the game well, and has good positioning. What a performance from a freshman goalie in a big, big game like this.”
Avery Dekker, Ava Steen, Karli Rose, and Ruthie Hall handled the back-line defense for Unity Christian in yet another shutout, the program’s 23rd of the year.
“Our entire team, they bought into their roles, whether they are on the bench or whether they start,” Heethuis said. “They just do what is asked of them, and that’s a credit to them.”
PHOTOS Unity Christian’s Kiersten Witte (14), Marlie Moelker (15) and Myla Obande (24) celebrate during their team’s Division 3 Final victory Saturday. (Middle) The Crusaders’ Kyla Kobrzycki (21) attempts to nudge the ball past Marian keeper Caitlyn Curtis, far left. (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
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.)