Mattawan coach Kirt Brown admitted that, despite having a talented senior class, his team couldn’t handle the moment last year in losing to Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 4-2, in the Division 2 state semifinals.
“We came out flat,” said Brown. “Flat. We learned from the experience.”
Wednesday against perennial power East Lansing in the semifinals, Mattawan showed how much it had learned, stunning the Trojans, 2-0, to advance to Saturday’s 3 p.m., championship game against Dearborn Divine Child at Rochester Hills Stoney Creek.
“We were in that same game last year and I don’t think our guys were quite prepared for it, and I’ll take credit for some of that,” said Brown. “I have nine seniors on the team and some of them weren’t even on varsity last year.
“Basically, I played a new formation with the guys. They responded to the call because we played probably as good as we possibly could have in the moment. We wanted to weather the storm early and then take our chances, as few as they were. When we got them, we capitalized.”
Mattawan (21-4-2) lost 12 seniors from last year’s squad, which scored 100 goals. This year’s team has scored 55, but the defense has posted 13 shutouts.
“We play in a tough conference with Portage Northern and Portage Central,” said Brown. “I think we’ve played on our schedule 15 top-20 ranked Division 1 or Division 2 schools. Against D-2 top 20-ranked schools we are now 10-1-2. We’re playing well. We were good defensively a year ago, but we ran into a little bit of a buzz saw last year in the semifinals.”
The Wildcats are led by goalkeeper Casey Kirkbride; sweeper back Nolan Hadder, a senior captain along with senior Anders Palarz, who plays in the middle of the field; and forwards Jarrett Hageman and Evan Marquess.
“Those guys are offensive players who have really dialed it in for us,” said Brown.
DIVINE EXPERIENCE: As a Dearborn Divine Child player, Ben Kowalski never reached the state finals. In his second year as the team’s head coach, he has led the Falcons to their first berth.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Kowalski Thursday morning, after the team’s 2-0 victory over Fenton Wednesday in the semifinals. “I’ve heard from coaches and former players.”
Kowalski graduated in 2000.
“My senior year we went 8-9-1 and we were so proud of that because we felt we were helping the program and changing the culture,” he said. “Within a couple of years things started improving. … This is my 14th year in the program, but only my second year as head coach. I feel like I’ve been here for a while.”
Kowalski thought the Falcons might be playing East Lansing on Saturday.
“I don’t know much about Mattawan, but we’ll be studying them,” said Kowalski. “I’m not going to say we were expecting East Lansing because Mattawan has been ranked in the top 10 all year and in years past. It sounds like a good defensive team. To hold East Lansing to zero goals … obviously they are a good defensive team.”
Contact Perry A. Farrell: 313-222-2555 or pafarrell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @perryfarrell12.
Prep roundup: Troy Athens boys soccer stay kings of penalty kicks
Saturday’s state finals
At Rochester Hills Stoney Creek
Div. 3: Flint Powers vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, noon
Div. 2: Dearborn Divine Child vs. Mattawan, 3
At Comstock Park
Div. 4: Muskegon Catholic Central vs. Genesee Christian, noon
Div. 1: East Kentwood vs. Troy Athens, 3
Tickets: $8 for two games.
Mattawan boys soccer takes on Dearborn Divine Child Saturday in the Division 2 state finals