Varsity Boys Soccer Claims Tourney Title At Alpena SSS Challenge Cup

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Varsity Boys Soccer Claims Tourney Title At Alpena SSS Challenge Cup

The MSHS Varsity Boys Soccer team traveled to Alpena on Saturday (8/27/22) to compete in the Alpena Sunrise Side Soccer Challenge Cup.  After finishing three games of preliminary pool play with a record of 2-0-1, the team advanced to the event’s championship game where they defeated host Alpena by a final score of 3-0.

Game 1:  Marquette 5, Sault Ste. Marie 1

  • MSHS jumped out to a 4-0 halftime lead with goals scored by Ezra Pickard (assisted by Max Dawson and Kaleb Chipelewski), Chipelewski (assisted by Dawson), Pickard (assisted by Isaac Johnson) and Cody Struck (assisted by Jack Sysko.
  • Pickard added an unassisted goal in the second half before Sault Ste. Marie scored a late goal for the 5-1 final score.
  • MSHS keeper Edan Hautamaki stopped 5 shots in the game.
  • From MSHS Head Coach Dan Salmon:  “From a coaching standpoint, we scored two goals on set pieces so I am really happy with that. Some of our younger players really stepped up in this game.”

Game 2:  Marquette 0, Boyne City 0

  • After defeating Boyne City at home last week, this contest was a stalemate throughout.
  • Goalkeeper Edan Hautamaki stopped 4 shots in the game.

Game 3:  Marquette 8, Pinconning 0

  • The mercy rule shortened game saw MSHS run out to a 7-0 halftime lead before ending the contest in the second half when Kaleb Chipelewski completed a hat trick.
  • Goals in the game came from Evan Sysko (assisted by Jack Sysko), Isaac Johnson (assisted by Max Dawson), Dawson (assisted by Ezra Pickard and Jack Sysko), Chipelewski (assisted by Pickard), Henry Wood, Seamus Waite (assisted by Wood), Chipelewski (PK) and Chipelewski (assisted by Jack Sysko).
  • Pinconning did not register a shot on goal during the game.
  • From MSHS Head Coach Dan Salmon:  “This was a lopsided game but we knew we had to win big because of the tiebreakers. The boys went out there and did their job and we had some great effort from Chipelewski, Jack Sysko, and Wood.”

Championship:  Marquette 3, Alpena 0

  • MSHS jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Evan Sysko scored on a goal assisted by Max Dawson.
  • Dawson added the final two goals for Marquette with the first being assisted by Indigo Catalano and the second coming off of a penalty kick in the second half.
  • Edan Hautamaki turned away 3 shots in the first half and 7 in the second half for 10 total saves in the title game.
  • From MSHS Head Coach Dan Salmon:  “We set the pace early as Sysko‘s goal was just 30 seconds into the game. This was a great way to cap off the day as it was a true team effort in getting the win. Dawson and the offense took care of their side of the ball and the defense stepped up huge. Hunter Sandstrom and Indigo Catalano anchored that defensive line, these two were stand outs. Hautamaki made a couple great saves at key moments in the game which could’ve turned against us quickly. For having such a young team this year, winning this tournament feels really good.”

All-Tournament Team:

  • Following the championship game, MSHS players Ezra Pickard, Max Dawson, Edan Hautamaki, and Evan Sysko were named to the event’s All-Tournament Team.

Next Up:

  • The MSHS Varsity Boys Soccer team will have the early part of the week to practice before returning to competition on Thursday, September 1, when they travel to Iron Mountain for a game beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST.