Marian shuts down Cranbrook to claim school's 21st District Title

By MICHAEL J WALLWORK | Oakland Press

Opportunistic Marian shuts down Cranbrook, 2-0, to win D2 district title

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — The Birmingham Marian Mustangs knocked off the Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood Cranes 2-0 in the district finals Thursday afternoon.

"Our leadership team is the seniors, and they have done such a great job at keeping this team together and inspiring the young ones to buy into the culture, to prep with our film study, and to just give all they can," Marian head coach Reid Friedrichs said. "So the seniors have just kept this team going and have allowed us to evolve so much quicker with all the young players and all the injuries we have had. It's really, really amazing."
Marian scored a pair of opportunistic goals, then relied on solid defense and a considerable edge in possession to see things out.

"We had three awesome chances, which was great. And we buried two of them. So that's what I love," Friedrichs said.

Lily Robinson got the Mustangs on the board with 28:32 remaining in the first half when she pounced on a loose ball after a corner kick and rifled a shot home for a 1-0 Mustangs advantage.

Marian doubled its lead early in the second half when Bella Musachio banged in a rebound, making it 2-0 Mustangs.

That was all the offense Marian would need. The Mustangs dominated possession and when Cranbrook tried to break the Mustang defense cut off service to the Cranes' forwards. Overall, Cranbrook managed just two shots on goal against the stingy Marian defense anchored by junior center back Olivia Zahnow.

"We were always prepared for the big balls over top. We always made sure we were dropped, and we always made sure we had pressure, cover, balance – meaning we always have each other's backs," Zahnow said. "Communication in the back has been a big thing."

Cranbrook was solid defensively as well behind a total team effort on defense. Despite all of Marian's possession, the Mustangs had very few quality scoring chances. But ultimately the Mustangs were able to take advantage of the few they did get.

"What I want to talk about in the defensive effort is the communication that was coming from our bench. It was powerful," Cranes head coach Chad O'Kulich said. "So that defensive effort, I really want to credit our bench and their communication. They really impacted the game."

With the win, Marian improves to 15-1-2 overall and once again advances to the regional round next week where the Mustangs will face the winner of the St. Clair Shores Lake Shore district.

"It's definitely a very exciting journey, and I'm really excited," Zahnow said. "And I think with hard work and communication and our team bond, I think we'll be able to make it all the way."

Cranbrook finishes the year 11-2-2 after winning its second straight Cardinal Division title.

"I thought it was a very successful season, especially when I look at the opponents that we played," assistant head coach Dave Brown said. "So when I look at the results, I see brilliance. But when I look at the results of what these girls did, what they accomplished, and who they became, the growth, the character, the culture, I think it was completely successful. I know it wasn't the result we wanted today, but when I look at it as a whole I see success."

The Cranes will graduate eight seniors in all representing the most successful senior class in school history.

"My last three years on this team have been by far my favorite high school experience," senior Anna Timko said. "There is no other girls I would rather do it by. Every single one of those girls is my best friend, so I'm just really proud of them and all the hard work we've put in together. It sucks to see it end, but hats off to Marian. They played a great game."

OTHER COVERAGE:
Bloomfield Hills Marian girls soccer edges Cranbrook thanks to Flynn's leadership - Brandon Folsom. Hometown Life