By JOHN HETZLER

Of Journal Register News Service

Driven by the memory of a nightmare loss, Becky Lipinski made sure Utica Eisenhower’s soccer team hung on to defeat a never-say-die Troy squad for a milestone victory Wednesday.

Lipinski, a senior goalkeeper, snuffed out a last-gasp attempt by the Colts’ Katie Wassel in the final two minutes to secure Eisenhower’s 3-2 victory in a Division 1 state semifinal game at Sterling Heights Stevenson High School.

“I just knew it was their last opportunity,” said Lipinski, a three-year varsity player. “I didn’t want to give it up again last year.”

With the triumph, Eisenhower (18-2-1 overall) became the first Macomb County girls soccer team to advance to the state finals. More importantly for the Eagles, they erased the memories of a heartbreaking overtime loss to Grosse Pointe North in last year’s state semifinals.

“It feels amazing,” Lipinski said. “Last year we were so close, and this year we finally did it.”

Eisenhower did it, thanks to a strong effort from sophomore Megan Marsack, who had a goal and an assist, and second-half goals from Aubrey Sudomier and Alyssa Telang.

“I don’t even know what to say,” said Telang, a captain who earlier in the day had given her teammates a letter entitled “Remember This” which included pictures of Grosse Pointe North celebrating on the field after last year’s semifinal game. “Last year was a big upset. Every day I live that dream.”

Troy almost gave Eisenhower another nightmare. Wassel scored early, Brittany Chaklos scored late and the Colts’ defense kept the Eagles out of synch for much of the first half.

“We didn’t get the bounces today. It was unlucky,” said Troy coach Brian Zawislak, whose team finished with a 12-6-6 overall record.

“I’m really proud of my girls,” Zawislak said.

Troy scored first on a fine individual play by Wassel, a senior forward, 13 minutes into the game.

Wassel took a long pass from Madison Pines, beat two Ike defenders down the left sideline, cut across the field to elude another Eagle and, from just outside the box, fired the ball over Lipinski’s head for a 1-0 Colts’ lead.

“She’s been a good target up top,” Zawislak said. “But when she can face up, she’s dangerous.”

But Wassel injured her head on the play and did not return in the first half.

Eisenhower took advantage of her absence and evened the score with 6:58 remaining in the first half when Marsack drew a foul in the box. She put the ensuing penalty kick just out of the reach of Troy goalkeeper Victoria Troccoli and into the bottom right corner of the net.

That enabled the Eagles to head into halftime feeling fortunate to have tied the game at 1-1.

“Coach told us that on the negative side we played our worst half,” Telang said. “On the positive side, we’re tied.”

Eisenhower took control of the game with two goals midway through the second half.

First, Sudomier scored when her blast from inside the box deflected off a Troy defender and into the left corner of the net for a 2-1 Ike lead with 26:22 remaining.

Then, four minutes later, Telang stretched the Eisenhower advantage to 3-1 when she scored off an assist from Marsack.

“We were so nervous — you could tell by our touches,” Telang said. “We just needed to get the nerves out, and we pulled through.”

Troy, though, made sure it would not be easy.

The Colts pulled to within a goal when Chaklos, a senior midfielder, beat Lipinski for a ball in the box and put the ball in the net with 8:06 left in the game.

Troy kept creating chances, and the Colts had one last opportunity with 1:47 left when Wassel went after the ball just to the right of the goal. She collided with Lipinski, who fell to the ground and covered the ball to preserve Eisenhower’s one-goal advantage.

“Becky’s a good goalie,” Eisenhower coach Mehrdad Nekoogar said. “She knows when to play her best game. She stepped it up big time.”

Lipinski’s late save helped the Eagles advance to Saturday’s Division 1 state championship game against top-ranked Portage Central, a 2-1 winner over Ann Arbor Huron in the other semifinal.

Ike and Portage Central, which played earlier this season to a 1-1 tie, will play at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Troy Athens.

Meanwhile, Troy finished a season that Zawislak said the Colts could take pride in. In addition, he hopes his squad can learn a lesson from the semifinal loss, much like Eisenhower did last year.

“All the best to them,” Zawislak said. “They capitalized on their chances.”



Send comments to john.hetzler@macombdaily.com.