BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
FREELAND — Alec Pilon will never forget last season’s run to a district championship and a spot in the regionals against mighty Williamston.
Then a junior goalkeeper at Freeland, Pilon was superb between the goal posts and not only backstopped a fine 23-3-0 season, but helped keep the Falcons in their Division 3 regional semifinal against Williamston.
Williamston eventually edged out Freeland 1-0 in a shootout, but not before Pilon turned a few heads in the process with his stellar play.
“We didn’t think we could compete with Williamston, but we kept it close,” said Pilon. “We hope to get another chance this year, at least win another district.”
Now a senior captain in his third year as the starting goalkeeper, Pilon has continued to turn heads this season for Freeland, which was ranked 13th in the D-3 top-20 at the end of September. Freeland has loaded up a non-league schedule of Division 1 and Division 2 schools to toughen the Falcons up and prepare them for a lengthy postseason stay.
Freeland has defeated D-1 schools Grand Blanc (1-0) and Midland (2-0) and tied Berkley (0-0) among the more notable performances this season. The Falcons are 3-1-1 against D-1 schools with Pilon in net.
“When we played them, (Pilon) stood on his head. He’s a very good goalkeeper,” noted veteran Grand Blanc coach Greg Kehler, whose D-1 program has enjoyed tremendous success dating back to the 1980s. “He’s one of the best we’ve faced the past couple of years — and we’ve played some very good teams.”
Last season, the agile 5-foot-11, 160-pound Pilon made the D-3 All-State Honorable Mention list to go along with all-Tri-Valley Conference, all-district and all-region accolades. This year he’s considered one of Michigan’s top 10 goalkeepers on the high school scene.
Pilon’s talents exceed the soccer pitch, but have appeared evident in the classroom as well. Ranked in the top-20 in his class with a GPA hovering just under 3.8, Pilon is eyeing engineering schools in his near future. Lawrence Tech has already offered, while Pilon is willing to listen to other engineering schools in the Midwest that may have a roster spot for an underrated goalkeeper.
“School comes first, soccer second,” said Pilon. “But if a school has a good engineering department and has room (on the roster), I will consider it. I definitely want to go away to school, get out on my own.”
Freeland coach Brandon Coleman knows what he has in Alec Pilon, the type of goalkeeper that can be the caboose stoking the red-hot engine.
“He makes the saves you expect, but he’ll also make some incredible saves, grab balls or punch them over the crossbar that are headed for the (upper-90),” said Coleman. “This is my first year at Freeland, but I can tell you he’s one of the best goalkeepers I’ve seen this year. If we can make a run, it will be be in part of his play in goal.”
Pilon, who also plays club soccer for the Midland Fusion, has led Freeland to a fine 10-3-1 record with nine clean sheets and a 0.59 goals-against-average through Sept. 23. A minor thumb injury moved Pilon to the defense for a couple of games in mid-September, but he is determined enough to be in net when the Falcons play top competition.
“It’s my senior year. You only have one senior year and I will be there, no matter how much it hurts,” said Pilon. “I want to help my team go as far as we can. I think last season was the furthest we’ve been in something like 10 years. We want to go even further. We have to win our district first, not be an (upset victim).”
With Alec Pilon between the pipes, Freeland’s chances for some postseason glory are well within reach.