DISTRICT CHAMPIONS! Marquette Soccer On Top

Story, photos courtesy of MSHS Varsity Soccer

MARQUETTE---The Marquette boys soccer team hosted Petoskey on Saturday at the Kaufman Sports Complex for the District 32 championship. In what turned out to be a thriller of a game, Marquette won after two overtimes sessions and an 11 man PK shoot out.

 

In the first half, Ethan Sandstrom scored two minutes into the game off and Easton Zivnoska  assist. Marquette held a 1–0 lead at halftime.

 

In the second half, Petoskey scored two minutes into that half. With five minutes to go in the game, Marquette keeper Edan Hautamaki made a save on a penalty kick for Petoskey. Regulation time ended with a 1-1 tie. Hautamaki made four saves in the first half and six saves in the second half.

 

The teams played in two scoreless 10 minute overtime sessions before going to a penalty shootout.

 

In the first penalty shootout, Petosky scored from the one position and the four and five position.

Marquette’s Dixon Poggi scored from the one position followed by Ethan Sandstrom from the three position and Kaleb Chipelewski from the five position.

The score remained tied 3–3 after the first penalty shootout.

 

From there, the teams went into a sudden death shoot out. Marquette’s Andy Brunswick, Will Salo, Charlie Hrodey, and Jack Sysko all matched goals to Petoskey before Ben Wilson put in the goal at the 11th spot after Hautamaki made a save.

 

“ I have never been part of a game like this in my nearly 20 years of coaching. This was unbelievable. Hautamaki made five saves on penalty kicks today. That is an outstanding stat. He kept us in the game. Ethan Sandstrom had one of his best games of the year as did his cousin, Hunter Sandstrom on defense.” MSHS Coach Dan Salmon said.

 

This is the first district championship in soccer for Marquette in well over 15 years as it is their first time being allowed back in the state tournament.

 

“This is a special win. The UP has some great soccer players and some great teams now and in the past. I am thrilled that we get to showcase it at the state level now," Salmon added.

 

Marquette improves to 14–5 on the year. They will play in the first round of regionals against Fruitport on Tuesday night with a tentative location of Gaylord.