Notre Dame Prep wraps up another CHSL AA title
After playing to a tie on Saturday, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Divine Child met up again three days later in Dearborn with the CHSL AA championship still undecided.
The first-place Fighting Irish (8-4-1, 5-3-1) knocked off the second-place Falcons (4-6-4, 3-4-2) by a score of 2-0 to claim their fifth consecutive league title on what was a cold and rainy evening.
A win by Divine Child on the slippery field would have moved the hosts into first place by a point with one league game remaining for both squads.
In addition to overcoming the tough Falcons team on Tuesday, and the weather, Notre Dame was also without a pair of key players in Hannah Zapczynski and Katarina Kovac.
“It’s just been a tough season with injuries for us,” said Irish coach Jim Stachura. “For us to go and execute and do the things we did today, with a tough field, tough conditions, (I’m) really happy about it.”
(Click here for more photos from this game)
Netting the first goal was Rosella LoChirco, who drilled a long distance kick that sailed over the goaltender’s head and into the net about 11 minutes into the game.
Around the 13-minute mark of the second half, a steal just inside the Falcons’ zone by Celia Gaynor helped set up an Erika Weist goal.
Like LoChrico, Weist also launched the ball high and ultimately out of the keeper’s reach, with her shot landing in the far left side of the net. Megan Kraus picked up the shutout in goal.
Irish Coach Jim Stachura said a lot was learned from the last meeting between the teams.
“We played them on Saturday at our place and their goalkeeper is very good on the low ball in front of the goal,” said Irish coach Jim Stachura. “So that was one adjustment we made. We changed our formation a little bit today too. It helped us exploit some of the things they don’t do so well and we do really well.”
Both squads play again Thursday and will wrap up the CHSL AA regular season. The Irish were scheduled to travel to Bishop Foley and the Falcons were set for a game at Ann Arbor Richard. (MIPrepZone.com, May 6, 2015)