It was a season to remember for the Ovid-Elsie girls soccer team.
When the Marauders defeated Swan Valley 4-0 in late May, it gave them the school’s first district title.
Victoria Stutzman had two goals and one assist for the winners, while goalkeeper Megan Walter had 16 saves.
Ovid-Elsie ended its season at 13-3-2 with a 2-0 loss to Frankenmuth in the regional semifinal.
“This year, we had a shortened season due to weather,” said coach Craig Thelen. “But traditionally, we usually ended up with around four or five losses.”
Winning the first district title was huge. “We’ve been in five district finals in seven years,” Thelen noted. “We’ve had our shot at the district title. [Swan Valley] was no pushover. But it was a long time coming.”
Swan Valley ended its season at 15-5-2, for the best record in school history. But Ovid-Elsie was a team of destiny when it came to taking the district title.
O-E scored two goals in each half and, Thelen noted, executed the game plan very well.
“We played as a team all year long,” he said. “We gave Frankenmuth a run for their money. The first few minutes, we had a breakaway.”
Ovid-Elsie had six shots compared to three for Frankenmuth, but it couldn’t convert with its dump-and-chase offense against Frankenmuth and goalkeeper Claire Carter.
Stutzman, a junior, wound up with 27 goals and 15 assists and earned all-state honors. Another junior, defender Logan Trefil, had five goals and two assists. Four goals were headers.
The Marauders were undefeated in the conference.
Only two seniors were on the team this season. That factor alone has Thelen excited about 2015 prospects. “This year, our local paper quoted this as being a rebuilding year, but these girls just worked together every day,” he said.
Stutzman and Courtney Kusnier, another junior, were captains.
“Courtney Kusnier didn’t have a lot of stats with just three goals and nine assists, but she controls the middle for us and is a big part of our team,” Thelen said.
The team aspect was truly a mark of this squad, as far as Thelen was concerned. “We have Victoria, who is a standout player,” he said. “There’s willingness to pass to everybody. No one person will not pass to another person. There is the communication and teamwork, all-for-one attitude. Last year, we had a lot of individual talent and a lot of expectations. This year, not a lot was expected of us. The girls just worked hard.”
Other girls that earned all-conference and all-district honors include Walter, Paige Conley, and Courtney Loynes.
“One of the team strengths was their ability to adjust in games,” Thelen said.