Sterling Heights

Falcons boys soccer team wins district title

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes In its first appearance in a district title game since 2007, the Utica Ford II boys soccer team downed Warren De La Salle 1-0 Oct. 19 to win a district championship. Pictured is Falcons senior midfielder Richard Bretesan. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes In its first appearance in a district title game since 2007, the Utica Ford II boys soccer team downed Warren De La Salle 1-0 Oct. 19 to win a district championship. Pictured is Falcons senior midfielder Richard Bretesan.

A great goal and a tremendous stop of a penalty shot led to the Utica Ford II boys soccer team beating Warren De La Salle 1-0 Oct. 19 to win a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 district title.

“This is big for (the team). I looked at every single one of those boys before we came out and said, ‘This is it’,” Falcons coach Teri Steinwascher said. “They all felt good. I told them it was just another game with a different title and that they just need to go play, and that’s what they did.”

The appearance in the district final was the first for Ford II since 2007, according to Steinwascher, who made it known the Pilots had the advantage as far as big-game experience.

“(De La Salle’s) boys have been here and have the experience. I told (my team) we had to keep our head, stay clear, stay positive, stay with the game plan and we’ll be OK.”

A diving stop by Utica Ford II senior goalkeeper Kyle Kline on a De La Salle penalty shot with 42.2 seconds left in the match secured the 1-0 win for the Falcons.

The contest was a rematch of an Aug. 28 matchup, which the Pilots won 7-1.

“I just said I’d react to it wherever it goes, and that’s what I did,” said Kline of the penality kick. “It was a 50/50 call. I was just watching the ball.”

“That’s Kyle Kline, and there’s nothing else you can say,” Steinwascher said. “That’s why he’s in goal right now. He’s been a blessing. I knew if he played his game, we’d win.”

At press time, the Falcons (11-6-5) were still alive and faced Birmingham Groves in a D-1 regional final Oct. 26 at Fraser. Ford II beat Grosse Pointe South 3-0 Oct. 23 at Fraser to get to the regional final. The winner of the Ford/Groves game plays the winner of the Walled Lake Central/ Grand Blanc regional final at 6:30 Oct. 31 at Lake Orion High.

Falcons junior midfielder Costa Wells scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal with 26:38 to play in the district final. Wells’ goal came off a pass from sophomore defenseman Kevin Kelly.

“I just stepped in and the ball was right in front of me — left foot, side netting,” said Wells.

The teams ended the first half in a scoreless tie, as shots on goal were a premium. One Ford II shot sailed just over the crossbar with 16:59 to play in the half. Kline caught a couple of balls in the breadbasket to stop the Pilots’ threats.

Ford II got to the D-1 district final by beating Chippewa Valley 1-0 Oct. 15 at Ford II and knocking off Stevenson 1-0 Oct. 17 at Chippewa Valley.

“We lost to (De La Salle) 7-1 earlier this season, and this shows the progress we’ve made this season,” Kline said. “We’ve come so far as a team and as a group. We believed in ourselves and being able to beat this team.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.