Berkley, Ferndale

Bitter loss in district final won’t diminish 2012 for Berkley soccer

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Sophomore Eric Braun (14) moves the ball past a Groves defender during a D-1 district final. Berkley dropped the contest 3-2 in overtime. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Sophomore Eric Braun (14) moves the ball past a Groves defender during a D-1 district final. Berkley dropped the contest 3-2 in overtime.

BERKLEY — Up by two goals coming out of halftime, Steve Wloszek felt his Berkley High soccer team was in decent shape.

Half way to a Division 1 district title, the Bears’ dream season seemed likely to continue for at least a few more days.

“Then we gave up an early goal, some things started going against us and the momentum really shifted,” Wloszek said a day after his guys fell to Beverly Hills Groves 3-2 in double overtime. It was the first loss at home for Berkley of the season. “It’s tough. I mean, ending a season like that is not going to be easy.”

Yet looking back on the year, Wloszek promised a single game wasn’t going to take anything away from what was a bounty of success.

“The seniors wanted to do something special this season. They put forth the effort over the summer, and I knew right from the start this was going to be a good year,” Wloszek explained. “The attitude was there right off the bat. The captains got these guys in line, and the focus carried us to some pretty special things.”

Berkley ended the season 15-5-2 overall and claimed the Oakland Activities Association White Division crown with an 8-3-1 mark.

The guys were 11-1-1 at home.

“I look back on this all, and six games into the league portion of the season, we were in fifth place — not by much, but still in fifth,” Wloszek said. “From that point on, these guys shifted into a different gear.”

Berkley won nine straight games leading into the final against Groves, including a 2-1 victory against Warren Mott in the semifinal and a 5-4 victory against Birmingham Brother Rice in the opener.

“The record these guys put together and the championship we won in the OAA says everything about these guys that needs to be said,” Wloszek added. “This was a great season for us.”

In other district action:
Ferndale High was part of the Division 2 district at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood. The Eagles’ season came to an end in a 6-0 loss to Bloomfield Hills Andover in the playoff opener.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038. Follow Mike on Twitter.