By BUTCH HARMON
Defense proved to be the key as the Okemos girl’s soccer team captured the Division 1 regional championship at East Kentwood. The Chieftains did not allow a goal during the regional tournament and now head on to the Division 1 state semifinals where they will meet Rochester Adams in the semifinals. Okemos is looking to win its first state title since winning the Division 2 state title in 2006.
Okemos claimed the regional trophy with a 1-0 win over Grandville.
Sophomore Ashton Miller scored the lone goal of the math with an assist from junior forward Kourtney Scott.
Okemos dominated the first half of the match as it outshot Grandville 6-0. Senior goalie Molly O’Connor earned the shutout for the Chieftains who survived a late Grandville flurry to earn the win.
With the win, the Chieftains improved to 22-1-1 for the season.
“We played extremely well (in the first half),” Okemos coach Brian Guggemos said. “In the second half we were a little off.”
Okemos reached the regional title game by defeating East Kentwood 1-0 in a shootout in the semifinals.
The match was a defensive battle as the two teams played to a 0-0 tie after the first two halves. After two scoreless overtime periods, the game went to overtime. Okemos outscored Kentwood 3-1 in the first overtime session to win the match.
The Chieftains received a big effort in goal from O’Connor who had four saves in regulation and a big overtime save. O’Connnor also came up with three saves in the shootout.
“It was a war,” East Kentwood coach John Conlon said. “It felt like a state title game and I’d put my money on Okemos winning the state title. It was like a boxing match with two heavyweights going at it and no one could land the knockout punch.”
With the win, Okemos improved to 21-1-1 for the season.
“I thought we played well,” Okemos coach Brian Guggemos said. “We had some tough chances but we fought through it. The thing I am most happy about is that the girls kept to the game plan.”