A day of high school soccer finals in Grand Ledge delivered two distinct paths to victory. Leland High School secured the Division 4 title in a dramatic penalty shootout, while Detroit Country Day claimed the Division 3 championship with a commanding offensive performance.
For Leland, the victory came down to a single, pressure-filled kick from a senior who had not scored all season. For Detroit Country Day, it was a confirmation of early-season promise, resulting in the program's record-extending 16th state title.
Key Takeaways
- Leland won the Division 4 Final against Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 2-1, decided by a 4-2 penalty shootout.
- Senior Howie Kropp, a former goalkeeper who hadn't scored all year, converted the championship-winning penalty for Leland.
- Detroit Country Day defeated South Haven 4-1 to win the Division 3 Final, securing their record 16th state title.
- Country Day's offense dominated, outshooting South Haven 31-5.
A Storybook Ending in Division 4
The Division 4 championship match between Leland and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett was a tightly contested battle from the start. Both teams found the net in the first half, setting the stage for a tense second half and overtime periods that produced no further goals.
Leland struck first with 24:24 left in the opening half. Junior Jose Roman set up senior Adrian Spencer, who fired a shot from outside the box that found its way past the keeper. The lead, however, was short-lived. Liggett responded when sophomore Sekou Manneh controlled a loose ball and sent a low, precise shot into the net with just under six minutes remaining in the half.
With the score locked at 1-1 through regulation and overtime, the championship was forced into a penalty shootout, a scenario that tests both skill and nerve.
The Unlikely Hero
As the shootout unfolded, Leland senior Howie Kropp watched from the sideline. A goalkeeper for his first three years, Kropp transitioned to a field player for his final season but had yet to score a goal. Despite this, Leland head coach Rob Sirrine had faith, placing him as the fifth and potentially final shooter.
“We kept telling him that you’re going to get an important one in the playoffs,” Sirrine said. “He kept going and he kept going, and didn’t get one. I was like, ‘Howie, now is your time.’”
Leland’s goalkeeper, Ravello Smith, made two crucial saves in the shootout, giving his team a 3-2 advantage. This set the stage for Kropp, who needed to convert his kick to clinch the title. As he approached the ball, Kropp said his thoughts turned to his late father, who coached him in soccer and passed away when he was eight.
“My Dad, he’s up there. I knew he would take over if I just put the ball on the ground,” Kropp shared. “Ending on this note meant the world to me.”
Kropp, who admitted he had never even participated in a shootout before, calmly stepped up and scored the winning goal. The shot sealed the 4-2 shootout victory and Leland's first state championship since 2018.
For Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, the loss was a tough end to a strong season. Coach David Dwaihy noted the significant contributions of his young players, expressing optimism for the future with a roster full of talented freshmen and sophomores who gained valuable experience on the biggest stage.
Country Day's Dominance Secures 16th Title
In the Division 3 Final, Detroit Country Day left little to doubt, showcasing an offensive power that South Haven could not contain. The Yellowjackets secured their record 16th MHSAA championship with a decisive 4-1 victory.
Country Day coach Steve Bossert felt early in the season that this team was special. An early tournament performance convinced him of their potential. “After we came back from that Boyne trip, I said, ‘I think we’re pretty good,’” Bossert recalled. “And then a couple of weeks after that, I said that ‘we might do this.’”
His intuition proved correct. The Yellowjackets established control early and never relinquished it.
By the Numbers: Division 3 Final
- Total Shots: Detroit Country Day 31, South Haven 5
- Goalkeeper Saves: South Haven's Alex Jaimes made 14 saves.
- Country Day's Scoring Burst: Three goals were scored in the first 18 minutes and 50 seconds of the match.
An Offensive Onslaught
The scoring began less than 11 minutes into the game. Senior Micah Zacks headed a pass to sophomore Rye Clegg, who then headed the ball into the net. Just a few minutes later, senior Yousef Darwich made it 2-0 by tapping in a loose ball after a strong cross from junior Luke Hourani.
Zacks scored his first goal of the game off a corner kick with 21:10 left in the half, extending the lead to 3-0. He added his second goal in the second half, finishing a play set up by senior Tino Haratsaris, who skillfully beat a defender to deliver the assist.
“We knew it was a good goalie, but we just had to keep shooting,” Zacks said, crediting South Haven keeper Alex Jaimes, who made 14 saves. “Just keep shooting, and they’ll eventually go in. That’s what we did.”
South Haven, which was unranked entering the tournament, managed to get on the scoreboard late in the game. With just over a minute remaining, junior Jaden Bolhuis launched a shot from about 30 yards out that found the back of the net. Despite the loss, South Haven coach Randy Bautista expressed pride in his team's unexpected run to the final.
“Overall, the season was something to be proud of,” Bautista stated. “We beat tough opponents and ranked opponents throughout the playoffs. … Unfortunately it didn’t go our way today. But we keep our heads up and keep going.”
For Country Day, the victory marked their first state title in seven years, reasserting the program's long-standing legacy of success in Michigan high school soccer.