Everest Collegiate reaches regional semifinal
It was an all-league affair on Tuesday at the Division 4 boys’ soccer regional semifinals at Madison Heights Bishop Foley.
The first matchup of the evening featured Riverview Gabriel Richard tangling with Clarkston Everest Collegiate.
In cold and rainy conditions, the Mountaineers from Everest grinded out a 3- 0 shutout of the Pioneers and advanced through to the regional final.
Everest (9-5-2) broke the scoreless tie in the early stages of the 29th minute when Luke Walker bent one in from about 25 yards out. The Mountaineers’ Lucas Cross then tacked on a big insurance goal in the final few minutes before halftime to make it a 2- 0 cushion.
Everest continued to attack after the intermission, eventually setting up Anthony Felix to cap off the scoring and put the game on ice for the Mountaineers.
“I thought we moved the ball very well,” said Everest head coach John Haezebrouck after the win. “We communicated very well defensively and didn’t break down too often. We were hunting for that first goal and once we got it, we felt a lot more motivated.”
Gabriel Richard (6- 5-1) went into this contest already undermanned with one sidelined due to injury and another being quarantined. Head coach Eric Perilla applauded his team for keeping themselves in it for as long as they could.
“I love the way those guys played today and all season,” Perilla said. “(Goalkeeper Kyle Paoletti) has been amazing for us all year. He’s just been rock solid and he’s left some big shoes to fill for whoever does assume that role moving forward. And our back line stepped up, I’ve been very happy with how they’ve played.”
The three- goal difference is not as indicative as how one- sided the affair one on Tuesday. Everest (95-2) ended up outshooting Gabriel Richard (6- 5-1) by a total of 27 to 6. The Pioneers only had two qual
ity chances on net, both of which came after halftime.
That constant pressure coupled with limited Gabriel Richard’s chances on net had Haezebrouck very encouraged.
“I think (Paoletti) played a heck of a game,” Haezebrouck said. “I think we were able to carry the ball forward and play up top into more dangerous spots. Defensively too, that is something we’ve been really working on. And as the season has progressed, we’ve grown a lot and have more confidence.”
Perilla said there was never any sort of “fear”
given the fact that Everest was a semifinalist from a year ago and that there was no urgency to deter away from their initial game plan.
As for Perilla and the Pioneers, their season comes to a close after capturing the program’s first district title since 2001. While it is not where they wished to have their season end, Perilla is already looking forward to the future.
“We set a nice milestone with what we did this season,” Perilla said. “It was nice to win districts, especially against Inter- City Baptist who beat us the
last two years. Hopefully that helps set the tone with what the standard is for our program moving forward.”
Everest now moves on to Thursday’s regional final where they will battle with Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett (12-1-1). The Knights ousted Royal Oak Shrine in the second semifinal on Tuesday by a final of 6-2. It will be a rematch of last year’s Division 4 semifinal on Thursday. Liggett defeated the Mountaineers 5- 0 before eventually losing to Muskegon Western Michigan Christian in the finals.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Bishop Foley.