‘Survival of the fittest’

Girls soccer fans, Catholic League Central Division
looks tougher than ever

By Chris Langrill
C & G Assistant Sports Editor

MADISON HEIGHTS — Kelly Stetser had splotches of mud on her neck, down the front of her black jacket and on her white shorts.

The senior forward’s shoes were caked with the stuff.

And this was about a half-hour before her Bishop Foley soccer team hosted archrival Bloomfield Hills Marian in the opening game of the Catholic High School League Central Division’s 2007 season.

Standing next to her buddy and fellow Troy resident Veronica Femminineo, a senior forward, Stetser talked with excitement about the upcoming season even as gray skies loomed overhead and a steady rain fell.

As for the muddy mess … the Ventures must have had one heck of a warm-up, eh?

Stetser smiled.

“Oh yeah,” answered Femminineo for her. “It’s Marian!”

Game time
The Ventures would lose their opener to the four-time defending league champion Mustangs, 3-0, March 27.

Just the same, one could easily understand why they were so pumped-up beforehand — aside from being a big rivalry game, the showdown marked the start of what promises to be one of the more competitive and fun races the league has seen in some time.

While Marian and Foley finished 1-2 in the Central last year — the Mustangs return six starters, 14 players overall; Foley brings back eight of 11 starters — there are other talented teams within the league ranks looking to make their mark and knock the two traditional powers down a few pegs.

And the favorites know it.

“We always have to bring our top game,” said Marian junior captain Sarah Whitty, a defensive sweeper who hails from Bloomfield Hills. “It definitely motivates us (wearing the champion’s target), and we know we always have to work extra hard.”

In addition to fending off the Ventures — who had won a record nine straight CHSL championships before Marian started its current streak in 2003 — the Mustangs should be challenged by Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Harper Woods Regina and Farmington Hills Mercy. They were all in the hunt for a league playoff spot in 2006 and return plenty of experience themselves.

Livonia Ladywood and Dearborn Divine Child rounded out the standings last year, but they can also be dangerous.

“It’s going to be survival of the fittest,” said Foley second-year head coach Aaron Miller, whose girls lost a 3-2 overtime classic to Marian in last season’s league title game. “Every team is going to be good. Going on the road is especially going to be tough, regardless of whether you’re at Prep or Divine Child.”

And in this corner
Regina coach Ken Perlin returns eight starters from his 2006 roster. The Saddlelites’ main challenge will be replacing the offensive output of senior standouts Stephanie Martin and Gloria Soyad, who anchored a team that was one goal away from playing in its second straight Division 2 state final-four game last year.

Some folks might think Regina is down this season.

“They can think that,” said junior captain Erin Dudash, a St. Clair Shores resident who plays in the midfield, with a grin before a recent practice. “But we’ll see.”

“We’re gonna make the Catholic League playoffs!” chimed in senior captain and marking back Lexie McGillis of Fraser. “We return our entire defense. We know it will still be tough, though.”

Doug Green’s Notre Dame Prep team has nine of last year’s 11 starters back on the field, so expectations are admittedly high in that camp, too.

“It’s a feeling the girls bring with them every day to practice,” said Green about his team’s confidence. “But I think Marian is still the class of the league, and the championship still goes through them.”

More Central Division squads will get the chance to make the league playoffs this season. Whereas in years past two Central teams made the CHSL postseason along with two teams from the AA, this year the two divisions will have separate playoff tournaments, meaning four teams from the Central will now qualify for the postseason.