The rubber match is Saturday!
Two years ago, the Skyline Eagles landed their first Division 1 field hockey state title with a tough victory over rival Pioneer in the finals. Last year, Pioneer knocked off Skyline in the Saline fog to win another Division 1 state championship.
The two elite programs will meet again at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Farmington Hills with another state title on the line. The game will be played at The Hawk at Farmington Hills Community Center (29995 W. 12 Mile).
The two teams met twice in the regular season with Skyline winning both – 5-1 and 6-4.
The Eagles, with 13 seniors on the roster and the No. 1 seed, have been dominant in the postseason, winning all three games by 8-0 scores. They opened with an 8-0 win over Forest Hills before beating Rockford 8-0 in the quarterfinals and Novi 8-0 in Wednesday’s semifinal game.
Against the Wildcats, Skyline led 2-0 at halftime before finishing the game off with six more goals with 4 minutes still to play. Coco Courtright (University of North Carolina commit) had three goals and two assists and Cami Wiseman (Michigan commit) had two goals and two assists. Sadie Schultz, Chiara Bichakjian (3 assists) and Lilly Shannon all scored a goal for the winners.
Senior goalie Maddie Wade has not allowed a goal in the playoffs. The Skyline defense held Novi to just one shot on goal in the game.
Pioneer came in as the No. 3 seed and defeated Clarkston 8-0 in its playoff opener. The Pioneers knocked off West Bloomfield 8-0 in the quarterfinals.
They played a familiar and tough foe in the semifinals on Wednesday, scoring an impressive 4-2 win over the second-seeded Saline Hornets. Lily Boardman had two goals and Anne McGowan and Lily Soldan each scored once in the victory.
Pioneer’s Maddie Grand made four saves to earn the victory in goal.
