Varsity Boys Soccer Captures 14th Consecutive U.P. Championship; Ends Season With 21-2 Record

Posted on by admin
Varsity Boys Soccer Captures 14th Consecutive U.P. Championship; Ends Season With 21-2 Record

Varsity Boys Soccer (21-2)

The MSHS Varsity Boys Soccer team hosted the U.P. Boys Soccer Championships on Saturday, 10/16/21, at the Kaufman Sports Complex in Marquette.  Teams competing in the Division 1 Tournament included Houghton, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie.

After defeating Houghton in semifinal contest by a score of 5-0, the team claimed the 2021 U.P. Championship by defeating Iron Mountain 8-0 in the event final.  The tournament win is the 14th consecutive U.P. title for the MSHS Varsity Boys Soccer Team.

Game 1 – Semifinal:  Marquette 5, Houghton 0

  • Max Dawson got the goal scoring started with a marker assisted by Ayden Beaudry and John Weber.
  • Harrison Anthos faced six shots in net for a 1-0 halftime lead.
  • Marquette broke the game open in the second half off with another Dawson goal assisted by Evan Sysko.
  • Sysko then scored a goal of his own with assists being awarded to Ezra Pickard and Weber.
  • Nick Lindberg made the score 4-0 from on a goal assisted by Pickard and Zane Phillips.
  • Pickard finished the scoring on a goal assisted by Indigo Catalano.
  • During the game, Max Dawson broke the single season boys goal record for Marquette (36) with his 36th and 37th goals of the season.

Game 2 – Championship:  Marquette 8, Iron Mountain 0

  • In the championship game, Max Dawson again started the scoring off with a goal assisted by John Weber.
  • Enzo Stabile followed that up with a goal (assisted by Weber) to double the MSHS lead early in the first half.
  • Ezra Pickard made it 3-0, which was quickly followed by a diving header goal scored by Isaac Johnson to put the score at 4-0.  Both goals were assisted by Lamb Ngafeeson.
  • Pickard then finished the first half goal scoring off with a goal assisted by Nick Lindberg making it 5-0 at the halftime break.
  • In the second half, Dawson got his second of the game and 39th of the season with an assist going to Ethan Sandstrom.
  • Axel Vermaat made the score 7-0 (unassisted).
  • Hayden Byma then finished the scoring and the game with a goal assisted by Vermaat.
  • Harrison Anthos did not face a single shot in net.

From MSHS Head Coach, Dan Salmon:

  • “After a long stretch with no games, we came out a little slow but once we settled in things started going our way.  Max Dawson always sets the tone for us and he really stepped it up today.  Iron Mountain is a good, well coached team and, after beating us earlier in the season, we really wanted to get back on the field with them.  It was the perfect setting for that in the championship of the U.P. Tournament.  The coaching staff challenged the boys to play a complete game, which we did.  I’m very proud of the fact the defense did not give up any shots and the offense had 10 different players gain a goal or assist. It was a true team effort in the championship game.”