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Adams Highlanders -- Regional Champions!
Adams Highlanders -- District Champions!
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Adams Falls in OT to end season
By KEITH DUNLAP Of The Oakland Press
ROCHESTER HILLS — The shot rifled from roughly 25 yards out by Birmingham Brother Rice senior Adam Gorski might have ended up in the back of the net anyway.
But given the tough breaks the Warriors had earlier, and how good Rochester Adams goalie Kevin Soisson is, Brother Rice junior Cameron Ireland decided it was best not to take any chances.
Stationed right near Soisson, Ireland deflected Gorski’s shot into the goal with 12:48 left in the first overtime to give Brother Rice a 1-0 win over Adams in a Division 1 boys soccer state semifinal played at Adams on Wednesday.
The goal sent Brother Rice’s bench and fans into a wild celebration and the Warriors into the state championship game for the third time this decade, where Brother Rice will meet Holt at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Troy Athens.
Brother Rice tied Warren De La Salle in 2000 and lost to De La Salle in 2005 in its other championship game appearances.
“I just deflected it to make sure it went in,” Ireland said. “There was a keeper there. It could’ve gone in, but who knows?”
It was wise for Ireland to put his foot on the ball, because Brother Rice at that point had to feel a little snakebitten.
In the first five minutes of the game, Brother Rice (15-3-6) had three glorious chances inside the Adams’ box, but none resulted in a goal. One went hard off of the crossbar. Another was stopped brilliantly by Soisson, while the ensuing rebound was elevated above the crossbar while Soisson was helplessly on the ground.
With 24:30 left in the game, a deflection in the Adams box by Brother Rice forward Peter Hensoldt went inches wide of the far post.
“Sometimes, when you don’t cash in those chances, they come back to haunt you,” Brother Rice head coach Barry Brodsky said. “As a coach, you’re trying to force that out of your mind and not think about it. You just keep working and good things are going to happen.”
A good thing did happen for Brother Rice early in overtime, when it earned a corner kick. The Warriors didn’t score off of the corner kick, but the ball ended up coming out to Gorski, who was positioned roughly 25 yards from the goal.
With all his momentum going forward, Gorski ripped a hard shot that got through the maze of bodies in the Adams box and to Ireland, who did the rest.
“I really can’t believe this,” Gorski said. “With about 1:30 left in the game, I fired a shot that hit one of my players. My teammates picked me up and just said to keep shooting. The ball came down, I put one on the frame and Cameron just tipped it in.”
Brother Rice carried the play in the first half, outshooting Adams, 6-2, and collecting two corner kicks. The Highlanders started coming on a bit late in the second half and had a lot of the play on the Brother Rice side of the field, but couldn’t manage to score on a Brother Rice defense that still hasn’t given up a goal in its state tournament run.
Adams did have a golden opportunity of its own with 28:35 left in the game when a shot by junior Alex Czirmer caromed off of the post.
“I thought we had some chances,” Adams head coach Josh Hickey said. “I think they had maybe better-looking chances, but I thought our chances were more a matter of they toe-poked it away or something like that.”
After starting the season off slowly, Adams (17-4-3) entered Wednesday on a 17-game unbeaten streak and had hoped to advance to its first state final since 2001.
“We knew it was going to be back-and-forth,” Hickey said. “They’re a good team. I thought it was a 50-50 game. I knew one break was going to end it. It was just unfortunate it happened with 2:12 into overtime. I don’t know what happened down there. It was a cluster in there and they had a shot on net that squirted through.”
Highlanders reach state semifinals
By KEITH DUNLAP Of The Oakland Press
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Going for the ball are Rochester Adams High School boys soccer player Joey Dillon (right, #4) and Utica Eisenhower player Brent Schmid (#12) during first half action, Thursday, October 29, 2009, in the Division 1 Region 4 soccer game final played at Lake Orion HS in Lake Orion, Mich. (The Oakland Press/Jose Juarez) |
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LAKE ORION — Cue up Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound” or whatever other tune out there that symbolizes a return home, because the Rochester Adams boys soccer team is headed there.
And no, it doesn’t mean the Highlanders are finished for the season.
On the contrary, Adams is very much alive and will not only get to play in a state semifinal, but will do so on its home field.
Thanks to a 2-0 win over Utica Eisenhower in a Division 1 regional final on Thursday, the Highlanders advanced to a state semifinal that will played at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Adams against the winner of tonight’s regional final at Troy between Birmingham Brother Rice and Novi.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association last week chose either Adams or Saginaw Heritage to host the semifinal game, depending on the geographical location of the participating teams.
Since it’ll be an all-Oakland County semifinal, there’s no need to go north, so Adams will now enjoy what should be a comfortable and frenzied environment on Wednesday.
“It’s definitely an honor to be able to host that,” Adams head coach Josh Hickey said. “When I found out that might be the case, there definitely was some motivation there.”
The Highlanders (17-3-3) will enter the semifinals on a 17-game unbeaten streak, thanks to senior captain Joey Dillon, who scored both goals of the game in the final 18:06.
Up until then, Adams had to have been wondering if fate wasn’t on its side.
The Highlanders dominated the possession and chances throughout the game and hit the crossbar twice on shots in the first half.
The most thunderous of those clangs off of the crossbar came off the foot of Dillon, who had a point-blank shot in the Eisenhower box.
“I was kicking myself in the foot a little bit,” Dillon said. “But I thought we kept possession and that we would be able to break through. It was a good team effort.”
Dillon’s first goal came on a free kick from about 25 yards out after an Eisenhower foul. Given the hard luck Adams had in the first half, the Highlanders seemed due for a good bounce, and they got one.
Dillon’s shot was deflected slightly by the head of an Eisenhower defender, which caused the ball to knuckle under the crossbar and give Adams a 1-0 lead with 18:06 remaining.
With 13:25 remaining, Dillon provided some insurance when he took a hard shot in the Eisenhower box that went off an Eisenhower defender who was standing just inside the far post and into the goal.
“Just irreplaceable,” Hickey said of Dillon. “He’s starting to get some recognition. I think he’s had an opportunity to show on this platform just what he can do.”
For the game, Adams had a whopping 10 corner kicks and outshot Eisenhower, 18-6.
Adams senior goalie Kevin Soisson did make a couple of critical saves, one of which came toward the end of the first half when he just barely stopped a shot from going across the goal line.
The second one came with three minutes left, as he stopped a shot by an Eisenhower player taken from roughly five feet in front of him.
“It was just a matter of when they were going to go in,” Hickey said. “I had confidence in them and they had confidence.”
Given it hasn’t lost in 17 games and gets to play a state semifinal game at home, the confidence should only increase for Adams going into Wednesday.
“We noticed it,” Dillon said of when the MHSAA posted its semifinal sites last week. “But we tried not to look too far ahead and to just take it one game at a time.”
Highlanders Drop Dow in Regionals 2-1
By KEITH DUNLAP Of The Oakland Press
LAKE ORION — Going into a Division 1 regional semifinal against Midland Dow on Tuesday, one couldn’t blame Rochester Adams boys soccer coach Josh Hickey if he feared that his team would be somewhat emotionally spent.
The Highlanders spent last week playing three mentally and physically draining district games, none more so than a shootout win over city rival Stoney Creek in a district final on Saturday afternoon.
Just three days later, Adams had to crank it up once again, versus an opponent many expected it to beat.
“It’s a funny thing,” Hickey said. “In my head maybe I was thinking that maybe these guys were a little drained, but they don’t feel that at all. We just came into practice the day before and they looked like they were ready to go then.”
The Highlanders showed they were ready, recording a 2-1 win over Dow to advance to a regional final against Utica Eisenhower at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Lake Orion.
If Adams wins that game, it’ll not only advance to the state semifinals, but it’ll get to play on its home field, since Adams has been selected to host that semifinal game by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
With the game tied 1-1, Adams senior James Davis scored the game-winning goal with 21:46 remaining in the game.
Sophomore Dylan Knott won a loose ball in the left corner of the field and fed a perfect cross into the box to Davis, who headed home the ball just inside the near post.
“It was a great pass,” Davis said. “He always puts it in right where I needed it. I just headed it in. I just got my head on it and hit it down. It happened to go in.”
From there, Adams did a beautiful job killing the remaining time by keeping Dow away from its end of the field.
When the Chargers did manage to get near the Adams goal, the Highlanders’ defense was there to clear the ball out of any danger.
Hickey said the difference for his team in the game was simple.
“Finishing,” Hickey said. “Just getting opportunities to finish. They countered quite a bit and had their own chances. We just had to finish ours.”
The first opportunity Adams finished came with 1:46 left in the first half, just when it seemed like the teams were going to go into halftime scoreless.
A service was placed into the Dow box, where Joey Censoni of Adams and the Dow goalie collided as they were going for the ball.
The ball popped free, right to the feet of Adams junior Justin Kane, who took advantage of the chance by shooting the ball just inside the far post to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead.
Dow then tied the game with 32:54 remaining on a goal by Connor Baak, who took a pass at the top of the Adams box from teammate Michael Finn and fired a perfect shot that went into the top-right corner of the net to make it a 1-1 game.
Fortunately for Adams, though, Knott and Davis were able to hook up for the game-winning goal to send the Highlanders into a regional final showdown with Eisenhower, which beat Flushing in the other semifinal, 2-0.
Adams (16-3-3) is now unbeaten in its last 16 games, but didn’t play Eisenhower during the regular season.
The winner between Adams and Eisenhower will advance to the semifinals next Wednesday, where it will meet the winner of Friday’s regional final between Novi and Birmingham Brother Rice.
“I think it’s going to be the same old story that we had all district,” Hickey said of playing Eisenhower. “We have to come out hard on them, we have to make sure we’re ready to play and we shut down their weapons. We have to play our system and make sure we don’t get caught up in their system.”
Adams Defeats Stoney for District Title
By KYLE DUDA Special to The Oakland Press
LAKE ORION — For the past two months, Rochester Adams’ boys soccer team has proven it can do one thing better than most: Win.
Although it wasn’t always pretty, the Highlanders extended their unbeaten streak to 15 games, as they edged Stoney Creek in a shootout — Adams scored three goals in the shootout, while the Cougars scored two goals — to win a Division 1 district championship, 1-0.
“Before our run, I knew this was a special team and then they started to put it all together,” Adams head coach Josh Hickey said, as his team has amassed a 13-0-2 in its last 15 games.
With the win, the Highlanders (15-3-3) will play Midland Dow in their regional matchup at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lake Orion High School.
Playing for the third time this season, the Cougars and the Highlanders refused to give an inch, shadowing one another down the field, anticipating moves, making it difficult for either team to garner a solid shot on goal. For players and coaches on both sides, it was what was expected, as neither squad has allowed more than two goals in their previous two meetings against one another. The Highlanders won the season series, 2-0-1.
After playing to a scoreless tie at the end of regulation and two 15-minute overtimes, the Highlanders’ goalkeeper, Kevin Soisson, continued his stellar play in the high-pressure shootout.
Soisson, whom teammates have dubbed “Stonewall Soisson”, made two saves in the shootout, while one shot was wide of the net.
“It’s a little guessing,” Soisson said about facing the shooters. “I watch their eyes, and sometimes they (shoot it) the opposite way they’re looking and I go the opposite way. I got a save like that.”
Although it was Soisson’s first appearance as a goalkeeper in an official shootout, he certainly has had plenty of practice.
For the past two weeks, the Highlanders have devoted the last 20 minutes of each practice to penalty kicks, and it undoubtedly paid off. Soisson had nothing but praise for coach Hickey, whom he described as the “smartest coach” he’s ever played for. Hickey was quick to reciprocate with the praise.
“It’s his first year (as a goalkeeper) and he’s proving he’s one of the best in the state,” Hickey said. “Now is his time.”
Joey Dillon, Justin Wineke and Alex Czirmer all scored goals in the shootut for Adams.
“It was kind of tough going into penalty kicks,” Dillon said. “You’re a little nervous, but you have to have faith in your shot and confidence in your teammates.”
With the score tied, 2-2, Czirmer, the team’s fifth shooter, stepped into the box and came through in the clutch, scoring the game-ending goal.
Hickey said his team’s hard work and dedication is what sets it apart from the rest.
Stoney Creek, which concludes its season at 14-4-4, missed its first two shots in the shootout — Soisson made a save on the first shot, and the next shot was wide of the net. Ryan Finstad and Zach Schewee each scored goals in the shootout for the Cougars.
“I’m really proud of them and it’s yet another piece to build on for next season,” Stoney Creek head coach Phil Moore said.
Turnovers proved to be costly for the Cougars, according to Moore. Whenever the Cougars appeared poised to make a run at the net, especially in the second half and in both overtimes, the Highlanders would come up with a steal, killing Stoney Creek’s momentum.
Adams outshot the Cougars, 5-3, on the game. The Highlanders registered two shots on goal in overtime.
Stoney Creek goalkeeper, Anthony Shepherd, proved to be equally impressive opposite Soisson, as he came up with two acrobatic saves to keep his Cougars alive.
Highlanders Win Playoff Opener
By SCOTT M. BURNSTEIN Special to The Oakland Press
ROCHESTER HILLS — In 1990, pop superstar and Oakland County-native Madonna set off on her Blonde Ambition Tour and played to sold out crowds across the world.
Nineteen years later, the soccer team at the Material Girl’s alma mater, Rochester Adams, is trying to put together its very own blond ambition tour through the state tournament. The Highlanders got off on the right foot in that regard, showing off their brand new bleached-blond hairdos and a hefty helping of ambitious play from their offense, as they beat visiting Clarkston, 3-2, in the opening game of the Division 1 Lake Orion district Monday night.
Adams senior forward Joey Dillon headed in the game-winning goal at the 15:49 mark of the second half off a corner kick by teammate Matt Szilard. Dillon finished with two goals in the game, both off headers via Szilard corner kicks.
“On both goals, I made a run to the back post and Matt placed great kicks in the box for me to convert,” Dillon said. “Tonight was a physical game through and through. Nobody wanted their season to end, so we were each playing with reckless abandon. Things got a little chippy, but we didn’t let it get to us and came through with the tough win. We have 13 seniors on this team and everybody knows their jobs. When we work together, good things happen.”
With the win over the Wolves, Adams advances into the district semifinals to face Ortonville-Brandon — 2-1 winners over Waterford Kettering — in a 5 p.m. game at Lake Orion High School on Wednesday.
Holding the No. 8 ranking in the state in Division 1, according to the latest rankings, the Highlanders improve their overall record to 13-3-3.
Jumping in front 2-0 on a Dillon header and a goal by Alex Czirmer on a free kick, Adams looked to be in control of the game with the clock winding down towards halftime.
However, Clarkston rallied back with fierce intensity. Jake Ray’s goal in the closing minutes of the first half made it 2-1 and then Connor Hall’s breakaway score off a perfectly-struck crossing pass from teammate Garrett Gotaas with 19:06 left to play knotted things up at 2-2.
Things didn’t remain deadlocked for long, though, as Dillon headed in his game-clincher on a play that was almost identical to his first-half goal.
Josh Hickey, the Highlanders’ first-year head coach, likes the way his team has been progressing through the season — Adams finished the regular season undefeated (10 wins and two ties) in its last 12 games.
“We’ve made great strides with each game this whole season,” said Hickey, following the triumph. “We stayed focused and finished up our schedule on a real high-note coming into the tournament. That type of mentality carried us tonight. We were fortunate to pull this one out. Clarkston came at us with an outstanding game plan and kept pounding away the entire 80 minutes. This team believes in itself and they showed it tonight. They think they can play with any team in the whole state and its that kind of confidence and attitude that will keep us going forward.”
Kevin Soission collected four saves in net to garner the win for the Highlanders.
Last season, Adams lost in the district semifinals to a Troy team that eventually went on to earn a berth in the Division 1 quarterfinals.
Regular Season Tale of the Tape
Record: 12-3-3
OAA: 8-2-1 (T-2nd)
State Ranking: 8th
12-game unbeaten streak to end season
Adams Concludes Regular Season With Another Win
Adams ended its regular season on a high note Monday evening, taking care of crosstown rival Rochester, 4-2.
With the win, Adams concludes it regular season having gone unbeaten in its last 12 games at 10-0-2.
Kosta Patsarikas and Justin Kane each scored two goals for the Highlanders, who finish the 2009 regular season 12-3-3 (8-2-1 OAA Red -- tied for second). Adams will host Clarkston, a team it tied, 2-2, earlier this season, next Monday in its playoff opener.
Highlanders Blank Pilots, 2-0
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By MICHAEL WALLWORK Special to The Oakland Press
ROCHESTER HILLS - The Rochester Adams Highlanders defeated the Warren DeLaSalle Pilots, 2-0, in a non-conference battle between two premier teams Thursday.
The game was a back and forth affair, especially in the first half. Both teams were able to move the ball, but tight marking by both sides limited the offensive opportunities for each team. The Pilots had been living a bit dangerously, however, by giving Adams numerous offensive zone free kicks, and the Highlanders finally burned them with 53 seconds to play in the half when Joey Dillon ran onto an arcing free kick by Matt Szilard. The goal proved to be a catalyst for Adams. "They ended the first half with momentum and started the next with momentum," DeLaSalle assistant coach Skipper Mukhtar said after the game.
Adams would use the momentum to full advantage, adding its second goal just after halftime when Dylan Knott blazed down the left side and found Justin Wineke in the box. Wineke banged it in for a 2-0 lead that Adams would maintain for the rest of the game.
After Wineke's goal, the Pilot defense, led by sweeper Nick Zingas, would clamp down hard, holding the Highlanders without a shot for the rest of the game. But as DeLaSalle pressed forward, the Adams defense was equal to the task. Matt Szilard, James Davis, and the rest of the Highlander defense would allow just three shots on goal all night. The defense had plenty of help from a hard-working midfield. Led by a trio of seniors — Joey Dillon, Morley Burns and Sam Suchta — the Highlanders pressed the Pilots at every opportunity.
After the game, Adams coach Josh Hickey was very pleased with his team. "I thought we worked hard as a collective group, and everyone supported each other," he said.
The Highlander work ethic was seen as a key to the game by Mukhtar as well. "They won every battle," he said.
The loss drops DeLaSalle's record to 12-3-4 overall. Adams, meanwhile, improves to 11-3-3 overall. The Highlanders conclude their regular season on Monday when they host crosstown rival Rochester. Monday's game will not count in the OAA Red standings as the teams already met in league play with Adams winning, 3-0, on Sept. 22. |
Adams defeats Royal Oak 3-1
By SCOTT M. BURNSTEIN Special to The Oakland Press
ROYAL OAK — Gutting out games in hostile waters under unsavory conditions tests a team’s character. Rochester Adams passed such a test with flying colors, going on the road to face off against Royal Oak on Tuesday night and coming out with a 3-1 win.
The game, played in the midst of a steady and hard rain, was won by the Highlanders in the second half, when they scored two straight goals to break a 1-1 deadlock in the final 25 minutes.
Kosta Patsarikis notched the game-winner off an assist from senior forward Joey Dillon. Justin Wineke followed with an insurance goal, also off an assist from Dillon, who scored the first goal of the night on a penalty kick in the first half.
Josh Hickey, the Highlanders head coach, liked what he saw from his squad when faced with the weather’s unfriendly elements.
“The weather was a factor on both ends, but my guys played tough to the end and took home a very respectable win,” he said. “I think the rain disrupted each of our gameplans at the start and both of us had to adjust. We put in our chances and played strong defense. That’s what wins soccer games. This matchup tonight was what a conference game should be — it was aggressive to the point of neither team playing dirty and it was heated until the final whistle blew. I think we did an exceptional job of matching their intensity.”
Adams pushes its overall record to 10-3-3, 8-2-1 in the Oakland Activities Association Red Division. The victory guarantees the Highlanders, ranked No. 10 in the state in Division 1 by The Associated Press, at least a second-place finish in the conference.
Senior netminder Kevin Soisson stretched out to make four saves and collect the win in goal.
Royal Oak knotted the game at 1-1 early in the second half off a goal by Luke Miller.
The Ravens fall to 12-3-4 overall, 5-3-2 in league play. Wilson Jenkins made a game-high six saves for Royal Oak.
Adams doesn’t have much time to celebrate its win. The Highlanders must immediately start preparing for a sure-to-be difficult non-conference home game against perennial power Warren De La Salle on Thursday. After that, the Highlanders will head into game-planning mode for their cross-town showdown with Rochester on Monday.
Last-second goal gives Adams a tie
Rochester Adams’ boys soccer team entered Saturday’s game against Romeo having gone seven-consecutive games without a loss. A goal from Tom Carrio kept the streak alive, and enabled the Highlanders to come away with a 3-3 tie.
Carrio’s goal occured with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Out of it's element on a small, wet, grass field, Adams gave up more goals than it had all season, but fought back from several deficits to earn the tie. Justin Wineke and James Davis also scored goals for the Highlanders, who now stand at 9-3-3 on the season.
Adams posts another shutout
By MICHAEL WALLWORK Special to The Oakland Press
ROCHESTER HILLS — The Rochester Adams Highlanders defeated the Avondale Yellow Jackets, 3-0, on Thursday night at Highlander Field in a boys soccer game.
The Highlanders and Yellow Jackets played a spirited contest that was closer than the final score would appear.
Play largely went back and forth as both teams worked hard and had their chances.
Adams scored quickly, when Dylan Knott pounced on a rebound in the box to make it 1-0 just 7:30 into the contest.
“We played hard,” Avondale coach Dave Muczynski said. “But we have a bad habit of giving up early goals.”
Adams would make it 2-0 later in the first half when James Davis headed down a corner kick and Joey Dillon fired home the loose ball. George Patsarikas would close out the scoring for the Highlanders with a second half goal that put the game firmly out of reach.
While Adams controlled the ball more, Avondale would continue to fight hard. The Yellow Jacket attack, led by Johnny Nofs and Dylan Kennedy, would generate their share of chances. But the Adams defense, led by Alex Czirmer, was able to consistently turn Avondale away at the crucial juncture.
Adams coach Josh Hickey was pleased with his team.
“I thought they played well and consistently,” he said. “It was a consistent effort all around.”
This was a friendly rivalry tonight , and both coaches had good things to say about their opponents after the game as well.
“Josh (Hickey) is one of the better young coaches out there,” Muczinski said. “They(Adams) played disciplined and moved the ball well. They had a game plan and stuck to it.”
Hickey was also complimentary of the effort Avondale put forth.
“I thought they(Avondale) came out hard and we had to weather that physical - in a good way- mentality that they brought,” he said.
The win improves the Highlanders’ record to 9-3-2 overall and 7-2-1 in Oakland Activities Association Red.
Highlanders Top Cougars, 2-1
The Adams men's soccer team continued it's strong play, and winning ways, defeating cross-town rival Stoney Creek on Tuesday, 2-1. Morley Burns opened the scoring in the first half, and Tom Carrio converted a header off of an Alex Czirmer direct kick for a 2-0 lead at halftime. Stoney converted a PK in the second half to close the gap, but Adams' defense held strong for the Highlanders sixth win in row.
The Highlanders improve to 8-3-2 on the season, and are currently ranked 9th in the state in Div. 1.
Adams Extends Unbeaten Streak to Six Games
By MICHAEL WALLWORK Special to The Oakland Press
TROY — The Rochester Adams Highlanders were downright unruly guests on Saturday afternoon, thumping the previously unbeaten Troy Colts, 5-0, in a contest between two Oakland Activities Association Red Division members.
Troy had won the previous meeting, 2-0, on Sept 8, but Adams made it clear early on that this would be a different game when Dylan Knott took a pass from Alex Czirmir, made a couple of nice moves in the penalty box and fired it home to stake Adams to a 1-0 lead just 8:19 into the game. Joey Dillon would score six minutes later on a pass from Knott, and the Highlanders would never look back, controlling the game and never giving the Colts much chance to get back in it.
"We came out really focused and knew what we wanted to do, and we finished our opportunities," Adams coach Josh Hickey would say after the game.
After the game, Troy coach Dave Hicklin was clearly disappointed with the result. "Adams came and played well, and we came and didn't play very well," he said.
The overall shot board was even at 10-10, but it didn't reflect the quality of opportunities. Few of Troy's shots were particularly threatening, though Adams' goalkeeper Kevin Soisson was called on to make two tough saves in the second half as Troy was trying to fight its way back into the game.
Meanwhile, seemingly every shot Adams taken was a good one. The Highlanders scored on their first three shots — all perfectly placed balls that gave the goalkeeper no chance to make a save. For the game, five different Highlanders scored. In addition to Knott and Dillon, the Highlanders got goals from Tom Carrio, Justin Wineke, and Sam Suchta.
While fans couldn't help but notice the offensive explosion, Adams coach Josh Hickey was equally pleased with his defense of Matt Szillard, Mickey Biebelhausen, and Joey Censoni after the game. "They really just controlled the game. I can't say enough about them," he said.
At the other end, it was Joey Dillon drawing praise from both coaches as he orchestrated the Adams attack. "Dillon kept it solid in the middle, along with Morley Burns," Hickey would say after the game.
Adams seems to be peaking at the right time. The Highlanders have now won five in a row, including three straight shutouts. "We're on a roll right now, " Hickey said. "I knew these guys had it in them to compete with the best teams in the state. It was just a matter of these guys believing in themselves, and these last two weeks, they seem to be believing."
The Highlanders, now 7-3-2, will try to keep their roll going on Tuesday when they travel to crosstown rival Stoney Creek.
After suffering their first loss of the year, Troy has to regroup in time for Tuesday's game at Birmingham Seaholm. "We'll have a meeting and try to turn it around," Hicklin said. The Colts(8-1-1) still have a lot to play for, both during the regular season and the postseason. Since today's game did not count in the OAA Red standings, the Colts still sport an unbeaten record in league play heading into Tuesday's game against Seaholm.
Adams victorious on senior night
By MICHAEL WALLWORK
Special to The Oakland Press
ROCHESTER HILLS — Senior captain Morley Burns scored the only goal for Rochester Adams on senior night as the Highlanders disposed of a game group of Bloomfield Hills Lahser Knights, 1-0, on Thursday night in an Oakland Activities Association soccer game.
The game itself was as even as the score line indicated, with the final shot total 4-3 in favor of Adams. But the goalies were much busier than the score line would indicate. Both Highlanders keeper Kevin Soisson and Lahser netminder Evan Wahl had a lot to do, frequently coming off their lines to claim crosses and cut down the angle on opposing attackers.
Despite a number of chances for each team, neither the Knights nor the Highlanders were able to break through the opposing defense and get a shot on goal until Burns scored with about twelve minutes to play in the first half when he ran onto a loose ball at the top of the penalty area and fired it home to give Adams the only goal they would need.
“It was a screappy game,” Adams coach Josh Hickey commented after the game. “Either team could have walked away with a win.”
After the game, both coaches were pretty happy with their teams.
“I think we played well,” Knights coach Dougie MacAulay said, “I thought we competed well with a good school.”
Hickey was similarly pleased.
“We played well today,” he said. “We were working hard, and I didn’t see any mental lapses.”
Hickey was particularly pleased with the play of his defense, led by junior Matt Szilard.
“The whole back line looked great,” he said.
Both coaches were also pleased to see their teams progressing and playing better as the season begins to wind down and the playoffs just three weeks away.
“I’m happy with the way the team’s playing.” MacAulay would say of his Knights. “It’s all fine tuning now.”
Hickey believes his team is also begin to come around at the right time.
“I think in the last three games we’ve made a turn,” he said. “We’re working as a team and avoiding the mental lapses and seeing that pleases me.”
Hickey’s squad improves to 6-3-2 overall and 5-2-1 in OAA Red play. The Highlanders’ next game is against the unbeaten Troy Colts at Troy on Saturday.
The loss drops Lahser to 3-8-3 overall and 2-3-2 in OAA Red. The Knights’ next game is on Tuesday when they host Clarkston.
Adams routs Rochester in physical game
By ROSS MAGHIELSE Special to The Oakland Press
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Rochester Adams Justin Wineke leaps over Rochester goalkeeper Chris Stewart after making a save in first half action at Rochester High School. |
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ROCHESTER HILLS — Rivalry games are viewed with great importance for good reason. They are games of the highest intensity, and the results are not soon forgotten by either team.
The Rochester and Rochester Adams soccer rivalry was in full swing Tuesday night, as Adams (5-3-2) defeated the Falcons, 3-0, in what was an intense and downright physical contest.
“Today we knew it was going to be a big fight,” Adams head coach Josh Hickey said. “This was a cross-town rivalry, and there’s a lot more testosterone than their is skill in a game like this, but we worked hard and were able to get out on top this time.”
Both teams played tough and physical for 80 minutes, and at times even exceedingly so. There were a total of seven yellow cards given in the contest.
“This game is a true example of a situation where you can throw all the records out,” Rochester head coach Chris Purgatori said. “It’s the classic cross-town rival, they don’t like us, we don’t like them, and that’s the way this game has always been played.”
Purgatori — who played his high school soccer at Rochester and has been a part of the Highlanders and Falcons rivalry for a long time — was disappointed with how his team played in this game.
“In a statement game like this, we’ve got to come out and play up to our fullest potential. Tonight we came out flat, and just didn’t play well,” said Purgatori.
Rochester (6-5-1) had just one shot on goal the entire game.
“Defensively, I thought our guys played really well,” Hickey said. “We’ve got some leaders on our defense, and they’ve really stepped up and taken ownership of it this year.”
The Highlanders got their first goal when Alex Czirmer scored on an open net in the 13th minute of the first half. Rochester goalkeeper Christ Stewart was taken out of the play after a collision with an Adams player, leaving the net wide open for Czirmer to score.
Adams took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
“I actually don’t think that first goal was too much of a factor, we just didn’t create enough chances for ourselves throughout the game,” Purgatori said.
The Highlanders took a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute of the second half, when Tom Carrio beat the Falcons defense and placed a shot into the far corner of the net. Adams had several other chances to add to its lead in the following minutes after their second goal, but Stewart turned away three point-blank range shots to keep the game within reach.
“Their keeper played great, I would say we’ve got to do a better job of finishing but he just made some outstanding saves and kept them in the game,” Hickey said.
Adams finally was able to add another goal onto the scoreboard with eight minutes remaining in the game. Much like the first score, the last goal came under unfortunate circumstances for the Falcons. Highlanders captain Morley Burns fired a shot from about 14 yards out that deflected off the shin of a Falcon defender, and lofted over and out of Stewart’s reach for a goal.
“It (the outcome) was disappointing,” said Purgatori. “We’ve shown that when we play the way we’re capable of playing, that we can beat just about anybody in the state. But if we come out and play like we did tonight, we’re not going to have as many opportunities to win games.”
Highlanders Handle Red Hawks, 4-1
Adams ran its unbeaten streak to 3 games Thursday, soundly defeating Troy Athens, 4-1. Justin Wineke opened the scoring by depositing a centering pass from Justin Kane. Athens answered with a goal of its own shortly thereafter, but the rest of the match belonged to the Highlanders. Adams benefited from an Athens own-goal to go up 2-1, then scored again in the first half off a Morley Burns goal on an assist from Wineke. Adams held the Red Hawks in check the entire second half with solid defensive play from Mickey Biebelhausen, Alex Czirmer, Joey Censoni, Matt Szilard, Jordan Littleson, and GK Kevin Soisson. The Highlanders cemented the win with another Burns goal off a Wineke assist, and ran their record to 4-3-2 at the midway point of the season.
Adams rolls past Seaholm, 5-1
The Highlanders got back into the win column on Tuesday, soundly defeating the Seaholm Maples, 5-1. Justin Wineke, who ended up with a hat trick on the evening, got the Highlanders on the board first off a corner kick from Matt Szilard. Kosta Patsarikas then scored on a feed from Dylan Knott, and Wineke put Adams up 3-0 on a feed from Alex Czirmer. Adams continued to apply pressure in the second half. Joey Dillon scored off of a Lucas Luna assist, and Wineke notched the game's final goal off a pass from Morley Burns. Adams stands 3-3-2 on the season.
Highlanders tie Wolves, 2-2
Adams showed its resilience Thursday at Clarkston, coming back twice from one-goal deficits to earn a 2-2 tie with the Wolves in the teams' only meeting of the year.
Down 1-0, Alex Czirmer knocked in a loose ball in the box to knot up the score. Clarkston scored just prior to halftime on a breakaway goal, and carried their lead through much of the second half, until Joey Dillon scored the equalizer.
Adams stands 2-3-2 on the season.
Highlanders Fall to Troy, 2-0
Dragons Slip Past Adams, 2-1
Rochester Adams fell to Lake Orion, 2-1 in their only matchup of the season. The Highlanders' goal was scored by Mickey Biebelhausen.
Adams Downs Andover, 1-0
Rochester Adams got back on the winning side of scoreboard Tuesday, defeating Bloomfield Hills Andover 1-0. George Patsarikas assisted on a Morley Burns goal in the first half for Adams, which lifted its record to 2-1-1. Kevin Soisson had the shutout in net for the Highlanders.
Adams Falls to Grand Blanc, 2-1
Grand Blanc gets late goal to beat Adams
By MICHAEL WALLWORK - Special to The Oakland Press
ROCHESTER HILLS — Ryan Keener headed in his second goal of the game off a free kick by Vincent McKeoun with just over six minutes to play to give the Grand Blanc Bobcats a 2-1 win over the host Rochester Adams Highlanders in boys soccer action on Monday.
Keener's header capped a tightly contested, defensive battle.
The teams moved the ball up and down the field, but each defense was very organized and gave up very few good chances to score.
The Adams defense led by Justin Wineke, with help from their midfield. Junior Matt Szilard was able to limit the Bobcats to just a few quality scoring chances, but it wasn’t enough as the Bobcat defense led by Keener was just a little bit better.
Grand Blanc started quickly, putting a lot of pressure on Adams right away and getting a goal just four minutes into the game when Keener headed in a corner kick by McKeoun.
"I thought we started fast,” Bobcat coach Greg Kehler said. “Then got complacent and that’s credit to them (Adams). They came at us harder.”
Adams would respond, slowly taking control of the game as the first half wore on.
“We were on our heels the first 10 to 15 minutes,” Adams coach Josh Hickey noted, “It took us 20 minutes to get settled in.”
Sparked by Dylan Knott and Tom Carrio, the Highlander offense began to assert itself, consistently getting deep into Bobcat territory, only to be turned away by a well-organized defense.
The Highlanders would finally score, midway through the second half, when Knott broke free again, down the left sideline and centered a ball to Sam Suchta who slotted it home to tie the game at 1-1.
Shortly afterwards, goalkeepers Corey Cunningham for Grand Blanc and Kevin Soisson of Rochester Adams would be called on to make spectacular saves on breakaways to preserve the tie, but both were up to the challenge, keeping the game tied until Keener got free for his header late in the game.
After the game, Kehler was happy to come out of the game with a win.
“It was a big win. It’s always tough to win here against a tough Adams team,” he said. He also felt his team played pretty well overall.
“I thought we defended well and scored some timely goals,” he added.
Hickey was a little disappointed at his team’s slow start but was pleased with how they responded after the first fifteen minutes.
“They stepped it up,” he said.
The win keeps Grand Blanc unbeaten at 3-0. Adams slips to 1-1-1. The Highlanders will try to rebound Tuesday against Andover.
Highlanders Sail Past Pioneer, 3-1
NOTE: See Mlive story and pix at: http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/game/news/392766/article/75948/
The Adams soccer team traveled to Ann Arbor Thursday night, and made the trip worth it by defeating Pioneer H.S. 3-1.
The Highlanders took control of the game midway through the first half on a goal by Tom Carrio following a long run down the left touchline and centering pass by Dylan Knott. Adams tallied a second goal several minutes later when Sam Suchta buried a shot off a feed from George Patsarikas.
Adams continued to control play in the second half, and added an insurance goal when Suchta sent a cross into the box that Morley Burns ran onto and put into the back of the net.
Kevin Soisson earned his first win in goal, posting 11 saves for the game. Adams now stands at 1-0-1 on the young season.
Adams ties Stoney Creek, 1-1
By KEITH DUNLAP Of The Oakland Press 8.26.09
The Oakland Press/JOSE JUAREZ Stoney Creek’s Jordan Tyler (23) and Rochester Adams’ Justin Kane (15) go after a loose ball in Tuesday’s season-opening, nonleague game between the intra-city rivals. Tyler gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead, but Adams would tie it later in the second half.
ROCHESTER HILLS — Both teams played hard, found the back of the net, had several near-misses and had a nicesize crowd of supporters cheering them on.
So taking all that into account, there probably wasn’t a more fitting result for Rochester Adams and Stoney Creek to have than finishing with a 1-1 tie in Tuesday’s boys soccer matchup of intra-city rivals.
It was also the season opener for both, so getting to open the 2009 campaign against each other probably added to the incentive in practice to prepare hard for the upcoming season.
“I like it,” first-year Adams head coach Josh Hickey said. “You start with a good team like that, you come out strong and you know you’re not going to play a team you’re just going to handle. You know they’re going to give you a fight.”
Of the two, Adams might have felt the best about coming away with a draw.
After scoreless first half, Stoney Creek took a 1-0 lead with 33:54 left in the game on a goal by senior Jordan Tyler, who took a pass from junior Colin Wilden, dribbled amongst a group of defenders and fired a shot into the goal from roughly 20 yards out.
Tyler can play any position on the field and played the first half at midfield, but Stoney Creek head coach Phil Moore felt the start of the second half was a good time to move Tyler up front.
“It was a tactical decision,” Moore said. “We felt like out of anybody on our squad, Jordan could beat their central defender, who was cleaning up everything.”
Ironically, seconds before the goal, Tyler was imploring his teammates to serve the ball up top to him, and Wilden obliged.
Following the goal, Tyler moved back to the midfield to help Stoney Creek preserve the lead, something the Cougars did until there was 9:52 left in the game.
Off Alex Czirmer’s free kick from 40 yards out, Adams tied the game when senior James Davis recovered the loose ball among a scrum of bodies in the box and fired the ball into the net to tie the game at 1-1.
Up to that point, Adams had numerous chances to score off of scrums in the box, thanks to the bullet throw-ins of Jordan Littleson, but the Highlanders couldn’t get quite get off a shot on any of those occasions.
Finally, Davis was able to get some room and cash in.
“We’ve just got to get more aggressive in that box,” Hickey said. “A lot of those are all aggression. You’ve got to want it more. Opportunities will come.”
Even though the two teams are in the same division of the Oakland Activities Association, Tuesday’s contest was a non-league game.
With the OAA going to just two divisions, each team only has one league game with each opponent. The designated league game between the Cougars and Highlanders is slated for Sept. 29 at Stoney Creek, but Tuesday’s game was added so the rivals could have the opportunity to play twice this season.
“We had the option to not play Adams twice, but that was one team I wanted to play twice,” Moore said.
11/21/2009 6:35:17 PM