Geoff Mott
Sports Scene
For the first time in six seasons, members of the Nouvel Catholic Central boys soccer team can call themselves district champions.
The Panthers started their surprise run with a 1-0 upset win over crosstown rival Valley Lutheran in the Division 4 district opener. The Chargers were ranked No. 3 in Division 4 in the final Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association poll, while Nouvel entered the game with a 4-11-1 record.
With a minute left before halftime, junior forward Logan Troester took a pass from Logan Rechsteiner off a cross from the left corner and deposited it in the Valley Lutheran net. Matt Gembrowski made six saves for the shutout against the Chargers, who beat Nouvel 3-1 in early October.
Nouvel went on to beat Alcona 3-0 in the district semifinal and then knocked off Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy 3-0 for the title. Troester had three goals in the two games to lead the scoring, while Gembrowski didn’t allow a goal in the district.
“We had an amazing run there,” Nouvel coach Ryan Ellis said. “We only have three seniors, so we’ll be back next year. But it is going to be tough losing that senior leadership.”
Nouvel lost 2-0 to New Haven in the regional semifinal game. The Panthers allowed a goal in the fifth minute, and after narrowly missing a goal on James Fabiano’s header, the Rockets added another goal midway through the second half to put Nouvel away. The Panthers ended the season at 7-12-1.
“That’s a big game, and we had to play well and execute our gameplan,” Ellis said. “We gave up an easy goal early and we played from behind. We had opportunities, but just couldn’t capitalize.”