Farmington Hills

Mercy soccer falls in shootout after successful season

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Farmington Hills Mercy’s Katie Coerdt rises up to head the ball during districts. The Marlins won their district before falling in a shootout to Grosse Pointe South in the regional semifinals. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Farmington Hills Mercy’s Katie Coerdt rises up to head the ball during districts. The Marlins won their district before falling in a shootout to Grosse Pointe South in the regional semifinals.

Despite playing in a physically and emotionally exhausting double-overtime playoff soccer game, and eventually falling short in a penalty-kick shootout, the Farmington Hills Mercy soccer team was able to smile looking back on its season.

The Marlins ended up 14-5-4 after falling to Grosse Pointe South June 5 in a regional semifinal at Fraser High.

“It’s a hard way to go out,” Mercy coach Butch Babler said about the shootout. “They did win districts. We play in a tough division, so we set our goal at the beginning of the year as far as winning districts and making the regional final, and we came close. One kick away.”

Babler credited his senior class with having “done a good job of leading all year.”

The Marlins say goodbye to seniors Imani Gunn, Paige Raymond, Katie Arthur, Rachel Harrison, Samantha Capatina, Susan Panetta, Macenzie Williams and Elaina Weber.

“I think we exceeded our expectations, definitely,” Gunn said. “I think the seniors are really happy with the way the season ended. Of course, we would have liked to go further, but we won districts, which is the first time since 2007, so it’s exciting.”

“I feel like we’re leaving the team as it’s improving,” Weber added.

Mercy is looking forward to applying the regional experience toward the future, as four freshmen and five sophomores are in the lineup, along with seven juniors.

“It’s huge,” Babler said of the experience for the underclassmen. “This is going to be a good program for a long time.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040. Follow Jon on Twitter.