Alma stuns Freeland in district semi
MIDLAND » It wasn’t supposed to happen that way.
However, it did.
On Tuesday afternoon from Midland Bullock Creek High School the Alma soccer program picked up one of its biggest wins in years in Division 3 district semifinal action.
As it was the unseeded Panthers (9- 4-2) took on top-seeded Freeland (12-3-3) in the district semifinal and toppled the Falcons 8-7 in a shootout.
With the win Alma advanced today’s district final where it will face Hemlock, a 2-1 overtime winner over Shepherd Tuesday.
The district championship game is slated to start at 6 p.m., also at Bullock Creek.
The winner moves on to next week’s regional tournament at Atwood Stadium in Flint.
Historically speaking, Freeland has been a constant postseason thorn in Alma’s side dating back years, thus Tuesday’s win was bittersweet.
“It was a great win for our seniors, they had never beaten Freeland before,” said Alma coach Nick O’neill.
“It’s a great feeling.”
The brother combination of Connor and Cole Lemerand had a great game.
Connor Lemerand opened the scoring in the first half unassisted.
He then added another via a pass from Cole before Cole scored in the closing minutes to knot the game at 3-3 and force a shootout. Connor also assisted on Cole’s game-tying goal.
In the shootout the Panthers went 5-for-5, scoring every single time they shot.
Cole Lemerand, Leo Richter, Adam Dixon, Ryan Thompson and Connor Lemerand all scored in the shootout.
Freeland missed its first shot of the shootout and fell 5- 4 in it.
Alma also won a great quarterfinal game last week, besting host Bullock Creek 5- 4.