Lakeview’s boys soccer team is doing plenty of things on paper this season that jump right off the page.
The Huskies have beaten a pair of schools about twice their size that are traditional soccer powers (Utica High and Clinton Township Chippewa Valley). They’ve gone 6-0 in the MAC Blue. Three players are averaging nearly a goal a game. They are well on track to earn their first division title under fifth-year coach Nick Spano and have to be considered a favorite to win their third straight district title. They've even crept into the statewide rankings as an honorable mention squad in Division 2.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about the team can’t be found on paper. There are no statistics to describe what Kris Trombley is doing for the team.
Trombley, a senior, is the team’s goalkeeper — a position he didn’t expect to play entering his third year on the varsity.
“All our goalies left, and I was like a last resort,” Trombley said. “Coach Spano decided to try me in goal one day, and I guess I did pretty well.”
The tough, athletic Trombley — who plays rugby in the spring for Lakeview’s club team — had minimal experience in net. He said he occasionally played the position when his travel soccer team would need someone to fill in.
“I’ve never actually gone to any goalie camps or anything like that,” Trombley said.
Trombley’s experience as a field player was evident in his goalkeeping style Sept. 26 when the Huskies hosted Fraser High. Often standing more than a dozen yards off his line, Trombley was able to clear a handful of potential Ramblers breakaways with his foot, rather than sit back in the net and make saves with his hands. Fraser tested him often, with quick counterattacks throughout the game, but he was able to turn back everything the Ramblers threw at him. The Huskies won the crucial division contest, 2-0.
“I enjoy it when it comes to games like this,” Trombley said. “I can’t stand being in goal when I don’t get any action.”
While most coaches may want to avoid the ensuing ulcers of a goalkeeper who lives near the edge of his box, rather than under the comforts of the crossbar, Spano is simply happy he’s found a solid player who was willing to sacrifice the action on the rest of the field.
“That’s not his preference to play goal, but he knows that he’s my best option,” Spano said. “He flat out said, 'I don’t love it, but it’s for this team and I’m going to do it.' That’s kind of the attitude that everyone has taken. They do what it takes to help the team, and obviously, so far it’s been successful.”
Trombley’s teammates have also taken notice of his sacrifice and solid play in net.
“It was a great surprise knowing that he could (play well in net),” senior midfielder Greg Norrod said. “It’s good knowing that we have that ability to throw him in there. It’s great that he’s willing to come in and play anywhere just to see this team become successful.”
Thanks in part to Trombley, it appears that Lakeview will at least clinch a share of the MAC Blue title. Yet there are key upcoming games that will play a major part in deciding who will be raising banners by season's end in the other divisions. Here are some can’t miss crucial approaching contests:
Utica Eisenhower at Utica Ford II, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1. The Eagles have a tight, one-point lead over the Falcons and Utica Stevenson atop the MAC Red standings. Ike won the division last year, but Ford knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs, so this one should be tense.
Grosse Pointe South at Utica High, 7 p.m. Oct. 8. Each team still has a couple games to get through before this MAC White clash, but the Blue Devils and Chieftains are well out in front of their division foes. South, the defending champions, hold a one-game lead over Utica.
South Lake at Lake Shore, 6 p.m. Oct. 10. Again, both Shores schools have a handful of games to get through, but by the time they face off for this grudge match, the MAC Silver title will surely come into play, just as it did last year when South Lake edged Lake Shore in an all-or-nothing match. The Shorians got the last laugh, though, as they knocked the Cavaliers out of the playoffs. Lake Shore ended September in first place in the division at 5-1-0, while Marine City sat in second at 4-1-1 and South Lake was in third at 3-1-2.
The Metro Conference, home of Macomb Lutheran North, Grosse Pointe University Liggett and Harper Woods, begins its tournament Oct. 4. Warren De La Salle, meanwhile, will look to defend its Catholic League tourney title when action begins with semifinals on Oct. 8.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Be cool, stay in school ... then play pro football
Remember “Be cool, stay in school”? The All American Football League has picked up the old saying, dusted it off and shined it up something fierce.
The AAFL, which plans to kick off its inaugural season in April, has a requirement that every player has not only exhausted their college football eligibility, but that they also have earned their undergraduate degree.
Led by a former NCAA president, various athletics directors and conference commissioners, the AAFL wants to stress the importance of academics and doesn’t wish to serve as a destination for players who drop out of college early in hopes of making it big in the NFL.
“You go to school to graduate,” Team Michigan president and former University of Michigan fullback Chris Horn said. "For the first time in history — no American sports league, no professional sports league — has had the requirement to graduate from college."
“We think that’s a great niche,” Horn continued. “I look forward to the day (University of Michigan President) Sue Coleman calls me and says, ‘Congratulations guys, because you stand for the values for what we stand for.’ We are going to keep pushing those values. That’s our story, and we’re sticking with it.”
With so few pro football leagues, especially after the recent scuttling of NFL Europa, student-athletes need to focus on the first part of that description just as much as the second.
And the AAFL payoff appears to be a solid reward for players who get their diplomas but want to try their hand at a playing pro football.
How does minimum compensation at $50,000, “plus an attractive benefits package,” sound?
That’s according to a league press release. Not bad considering the job market, economy and the fact that it’s for playing football for about for about four months.
Some players, who will work year-round for the league making public appearances and things of that nature, will make up to $100,000 a year.
Now that’s cool.
For more on the AAFL, including some prospective players and its recent combine at Ford Field, where Team Michigan will be playing, check out the Sept. 26-27 issues of all the C & G papers or the league’s Web site at www.allamericanfootballleague.com.
Other thoughts:
Maple-syrup covered kudos go all the way out to Vermont, where freshman Brendan Symington was named America East Men’s Soccer Co-Rookie of the Week. Symington, a Grosse Pointe North graduate, notched his first career goal and assist over the weekend for the University of Vermont Catamounts. His goal couldn’t have come at a better time — Symington scored with 14 seconds left in the second overtime of the Catamounts' 1-0 win over Sacred Heart Sept. 14. The win snapped a four-game losing streak. Symington then picked up his first assist as he set up the tying goal in a 2-1 win over Central Connecticut Sept. 16, allowing the Catamounts to capture their fourth straight Nike Fall Soccer Classic in New Hampshire.
For more on how Symington’s 625-mile trek from Grosse Pointe Woods to Burlington, Vt., check out the Sept. 26 edition of the Grosse Pointe Times or our Web site.
Lastly, if you’re looking to catch some soccer action this weekend, Sept. 22 is chock full of what should prove to be some competitive non-league clashes.
-Troy High at Utica Stevenson, 11 a.m. It might be early in the day, but a meeting between these two regional powers is tough to pass up.
-Fraser at Macomb Lutheran North, 12:30 p.m. The defending MAC Blue champs visit the defending Metro Conference champs.
-Rochester Adams at Utica High, 1 p.m. The Highlanders should be a handful for the Chieftains, as Adams has received honorable mention votes in both of the season’s first two Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association rankings.
The AAFL, which plans to kick off its inaugural season in April, has a requirement that every player has not only exhausted their college football eligibility, but that they also have earned their undergraduate degree.
Led by a former NCAA president, various athletics directors and conference commissioners, the AAFL wants to stress the importance of academics and doesn’t wish to serve as a destination for players who drop out of college early in hopes of making it big in the NFL.
“You go to school to graduate,” Team Michigan president and former University of Michigan fullback Chris Horn said. "For the first time in history — no American sports league, no professional sports league — has had the requirement to graduate from college."
“We think that’s a great niche,” Horn continued. “I look forward to the day (University of Michigan President) Sue Coleman calls me and says, ‘Congratulations guys, because you stand for the values for what we stand for.’ We are going to keep pushing those values. That’s our story, and we’re sticking with it.”
With so few pro football leagues, especially after the recent scuttling of NFL Europa, student-athletes need to focus on the first part of that description just as much as the second.
And the AAFL payoff appears to be a solid reward for players who get their diplomas but want to try their hand at a playing pro football.
How does minimum compensation at $50,000, “plus an attractive benefits package,” sound?
That’s according to a league press release. Not bad considering the job market, economy and the fact that it’s for playing football for about for about four months.
Some players, who will work year-round for the league making public appearances and things of that nature, will make up to $100,000 a year.
Now that’s cool.
For more on the AAFL, including some prospective players and its recent combine at Ford Field, where Team Michigan will be playing, check out the Sept. 26-27 issues of all the C & G papers or the league’s Web site at www.allamericanfootballleague.com.
Other thoughts:
Maple-syrup covered kudos go all the way out to Vermont, where freshman Brendan Symington was named America East Men’s Soccer Co-Rookie of the Week. Symington, a Grosse Pointe North graduate, notched his first career goal and assist over the weekend for the University of Vermont Catamounts. His goal couldn’t have come at a better time — Symington scored with 14 seconds left in the second overtime of the Catamounts' 1-0 win over Sacred Heart Sept. 14. The win snapped a four-game losing streak. Symington then picked up his first assist as he set up the tying goal in a 2-1 win over Central Connecticut Sept. 16, allowing the Catamounts to capture their fourth straight Nike Fall Soccer Classic in New Hampshire.
For more on how Symington’s 625-mile trek from Grosse Pointe Woods to Burlington, Vt., check out the Sept. 26 edition of the Grosse Pointe Times or our Web site.
Lastly, if you’re looking to catch some soccer action this weekend, Sept. 22 is chock full of what should prove to be some competitive non-league clashes.
-Troy High at Utica Stevenson, 11 a.m. It might be early in the day, but a meeting between these two regional powers is tough to pass up.
-Fraser at Macomb Lutheran North, 12:30 p.m. The defending MAC Blue champs visit the defending Metro Conference champs.
-Rochester Adams at Utica High, 1 p.m. The Highlanders should be a handful for the Chieftains, as Adams has received honorable mention votes in both of the season’s first two Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association rankings.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Clash of the Titans, games to catch
As division play for most Macomb Area Conference boys soccer teams gets fully under way this week, I figured it was time to check in on how a couple of last year’s top squads looked in preparation of their title defenses.
Utica Eisenhower, which went undefeated en route to taking the MAC Red last year, hosted reigning MAC White champs Grosse Pointe South last Friday (Sept. 7). The Eagles appeared to have plenty of energy at the start and eventually wore down the Blue Devils' backline, which was missing a key player to injury, taking a 1-0 lead after speedy senior sophomore midfielder Raoul Fulgos scored with 17:13 left to play in the first half.
South looked stronger and began to posses the ball more in the second half, but the Blue Devils couldn’t deliver the tying goal. Instead, Ike finished the scoring when Cory Wheeler slotted home a shot from a tough angle to the side of the net with 6:17 remaining in the game to seal a 2-0 victory.
Both programs lost key players from their title teams last year, and both coaches noted their teams still needed to work out a few kinks as their non-league schedules wrap up.
“We’re getting a lot of guys playing time and getting used to each other still, so we’re starting to develop more as a team,” Ike coach Josh Van Houten said.
Van Houten added that he was impressed with the defensive effort, but wanted to see the offense make more of its chances, especially with MAC Red play looming.
“We really wanted to work for that shutout,” the coach said. “We’ve, unfortunately, given up some pretty bad goals lately, and we wanted to make sure our defense was playing solid.
After calling his team’s first-half effort against Ike “mediocre,” Grosse Pointe South coach Gene Harkins said he plans to bring up a couple JV players to solidify his lineup heading into division action. Harkins said he essentially treated the non-league schedule like a preseason, rotating players in and out of the lineup.
“They know as the year goes on my lineup tightens and gets a lot shorter,” the Blue Devils coach said. “We’re really looking to jell stronger as a team. We’re geared up for the MAC White, that’s going to be a big thing for us.”
One thing is for sure, both teams will be in for a battle every league outing as the MAC Red and White divisions appear to have more parity from top to bottom this year.
Several teams will take a quick break from their division schedules Sept. 14 to face rivals in what should be exciting, tightly contested games. So if you’re looking to kick off your weekend with some solid soccer action, check out one (or more) of these MAC crossovers:
-Macomb Dakota at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley beginning at 3 p.m. (The Big Reds won an earlier meeting, 3-1).
-St. Clair Shores Lakeview at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore beginning at 4 p.m. (The Huskies could be the team to beat in the MAC Blue, while the Shorians could be the cream of the crop in the MAC Silver).
-Warren Cousino at Warren Woods Tower, 4 p.m. (This intracity matchup includes a pair of programs that pride themselves on defense).
-Warren Mott at Sterling Heights at 5:30 p.m. (Teams with talented offensive playmakers collide in what could be a high-scoring affair for these Warren Consolidated Schools rivals).
-Roseville at East Detroit at 5:30 p.m. (The Shamrocks will be intent on winning the Friendship Cup from the Panthers after losing their ‘SLED Trophy’ to St. Clair Shores South Lake).
Utica Eisenhower, which went undefeated en route to taking the MAC Red last year, hosted reigning MAC White champs Grosse Pointe South last Friday (Sept. 7). The Eagles appeared to have plenty of energy at the start and eventually wore down the Blue Devils' backline, which was missing a key player to injury, taking a 1-0 lead after speedy senior sophomore midfielder Raoul Fulgos scored with 17:13 left to play in the first half.
South looked stronger and began to posses the ball more in the second half, but the Blue Devils couldn’t deliver the tying goal. Instead, Ike finished the scoring when Cory Wheeler slotted home a shot from a tough angle to the side of the net with 6:17 remaining in the game to seal a 2-0 victory.
Both programs lost key players from their title teams last year, and both coaches noted their teams still needed to work out a few kinks as their non-league schedules wrap up.
“We’re getting a lot of guys playing time and getting used to each other still, so we’re starting to develop more as a team,” Ike coach Josh Van Houten said.
Van Houten added that he was impressed with the defensive effort, but wanted to see the offense make more of its chances, especially with MAC Red play looming.
“We really wanted to work for that shutout,” the coach said. “We’ve, unfortunately, given up some pretty bad goals lately, and we wanted to make sure our defense was playing solid.
After calling his team’s first-half effort against Ike “mediocre,” Grosse Pointe South coach Gene Harkins said he plans to bring up a couple JV players to solidify his lineup heading into division action. Harkins said he essentially treated the non-league schedule like a preseason, rotating players in and out of the lineup.
“They know as the year goes on my lineup tightens and gets a lot shorter,” the Blue Devils coach said. “We’re really looking to jell stronger as a team. We’re geared up for the MAC White, that’s going to be a big thing for us.”
One thing is for sure, both teams will be in for a battle every league outing as the MAC Red and White divisions appear to have more parity from top to bottom this year.
Several teams will take a quick break from their division schedules Sept. 14 to face rivals in what should be exciting, tightly contested games. So if you’re looking to kick off your weekend with some solid soccer action, check out one (or more) of these MAC crossovers:
-Macomb Dakota at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley beginning at 3 p.m. (The Big Reds won an earlier meeting, 3-1).
-St. Clair Shores Lakeview at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore beginning at 4 p.m. (The Huskies could be the team to beat in the MAC Blue, while the Shorians could be the cream of the crop in the MAC Silver).
-Warren Cousino at Warren Woods Tower, 4 p.m. (This intracity matchup includes a pair of programs that pride themselves on defense).
-Warren Mott at Sterling Heights at 5:30 p.m. (Teams with talented offensive playmakers collide in what could be a high-scoring affair for these Warren Consolidated Schools rivals).
-Roseville at East Detroit at 5:30 p.m. (The Shamrocks will be intent on winning the Friendship Cup from the Panthers after losing their ‘SLED Trophy’ to St. Clair Shores South Lake).
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Goals galore, Spartans pride
How do you replace a superstar goalkeeper? Easy, you score five goals.
That’s what Utica Ford II did against Fraser in a Macomb Area Conference crossover game Aug. 30. I had barely settled into my seat at the Ramblers’ stadium before the Falcons began lighting up the scoreboard.
Ford senior forward Ionut Simon opened the scoring just two-and-a-half minutes into the contest after an impressive buildup by the Falcons. Junior midfielder Jimmy Lawson doubled the lead five minutes later to put the Falcons up, 2-0.
The game's tempo then took such a drastic change over the next 60 minutes. The ball remained mainly in the midfield, but Fraser finally got on track when senior midfielder Cameron Holloway surprised Ford with a low, hard shot to the opposite corner to cut the lead in half, 2-1, with 10:57 to play before halftime.
But the Falcons regained their golden touch from the opening minutes as the game wound down. Senior midfielder Dominic Troia found the back of the net twice in the final 10 minutes, and senior forward Lukas Dreser closed out the scoring when he took advantage of a stunned Ramblers team with a well-aimed shot from a long way out with 4:58 remaining.
“All game long we played them tough,” Fraser coach Norm Lentine said. “It was a 2-1 game for the majority of the game, then all the sudden, with 10 minutes left, we just imploded and fell apart.”
The scoring outburst relieved a lot of pressure from Ford senior goalie Alex Forton, who, along with senior Brett Sowers, must replace the graduated Jeremy Clark, who is now competing for time at Michigan State after being named a second-team All-State selection last year.
“You don’t replace Jeremy Clark, you can't, ” Ford coach Dave Crawford said. “But I have two good goalies, and I’m very comfortable with the goalie situation.”
While we’re on the topic of the Michigan State soccer team, I’d like to point out that former Warren De La Salle stars Spencer Thompson (Shelby Township) and Josh Rogers (Sterling Heights) both started MSU’s first two games of the year — a 1-0 win over Oregon State and a 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky. The Spartans' next home game is at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 against Penn State.
And speaking of area Catholic League standouts at MSU, if you diverted your eyes for a few seconds from the debacle in Ann Arbor Sept. 1, you may have noticed Jon Misch making a tackle or two in East Lansing. The former Orchard Lake St. Mary’s star led the Spartans' defense in their 55-18 win over Alabama-Birmingham with a team-high nine tackles.
Misch, a redshirt freshman, started at strong-side linebacker for the Spartans — who host Bowling Green at noon Sept. 8 at Spartan Stadium. Former Detroit Country Day star Deon Curry, a junior wide receiver at MSU, also had three catches for 21 yards during the season-opening victory.
That’s what Utica Ford II did against Fraser in a Macomb Area Conference crossover game Aug. 30. I had barely settled into my seat at the Ramblers’ stadium before the Falcons began lighting up the scoreboard.
Ford senior forward Ionut Simon opened the scoring just two-and-a-half minutes into the contest after an impressive buildup by the Falcons. Junior midfielder Jimmy Lawson doubled the lead five minutes later to put the Falcons up, 2-0.
The game's tempo then took such a drastic change over the next 60 minutes. The ball remained mainly in the midfield, but Fraser finally got on track when senior midfielder Cameron Holloway surprised Ford with a low, hard shot to the opposite corner to cut the lead in half, 2-1, with 10:57 to play before halftime.
But the Falcons regained their golden touch from the opening minutes as the game wound down. Senior midfielder Dominic Troia found the back of the net twice in the final 10 minutes, and senior forward Lukas Dreser closed out the scoring when he took advantage of a stunned Ramblers team with a well-aimed shot from a long way out with 4:58 remaining.
“All game long we played them tough,” Fraser coach Norm Lentine said. “It was a 2-1 game for the majority of the game, then all the sudden, with 10 minutes left, we just imploded and fell apart.”
The scoring outburst relieved a lot of pressure from Ford senior goalie Alex Forton, who, along with senior Brett Sowers, must replace the graduated Jeremy Clark, who is now competing for time at Michigan State after being named a second-team All-State selection last year.
“You don’t replace Jeremy Clark, you can't, ” Ford coach Dave Crawford said. “But I have two good goalies, and I’m very comfortable with the goalie situation.”
While we’re on the topic of the Michigan State soccer team, I’d like to point out that former Warren De La Salle stars Spencer Thompson (Shelby Township) and Josh Rogers (Sterling Heights) both started MSU’s first two games of the year — a 1-0 win over Oregon State and a 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky. The Spartans' next home game is at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 against Penn State.
And speaking of area Catholic League standouts at MSU, if you diverted your eyes for a few seconds from the debacle in Ann Arbor Sept. 1, you may have noticed Jon Misch making a tackle or two in East Lansing. The former Orchard Lake St. Mary’s star led the Spartans' defense in their 55-18 win over Alabama-Birmingham with a team-high nine tackles.
Misch, a redshirt freshman, started at strong-side linebacker for the Spartans — who host Bowling Green at noon Sept. 8 at Spartan Stadium. Former Detroit Country Day star Deon Curry, a junior wide receiver at MSU, also had three catches for 21 yards during the season-opening victory.
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