As The Kinks once sang, “back where we started, here we go round again.”
Dexter and Pioneer are back again in a field hockey state finals, this time facing off against each other in first finals with the MHSAA as a partner. The two state powers will face off at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Northville High School.
Dexter advanced with a 4-0 win over Saline in Wednesday’s second semifinal game at Huron HS. After a scoreless first half, Dexter got on the board with a goal by Kylie Marcinkowski from Avery Shaieb with 11:03 remaining in Q3. The Dreads made it 2-0 less than 1 minute later on a goal by Alli St. Amour from Lillian Mitchell.
In the fourth quarter, Dexter got a goal from Claire Dubuque from Flora Klick to make it 3-0 and another goal by Gigi Kirkey with 5 minutes left in the game.
Dexter’s Audrey Owen-Smith had 10 saves for the shutout.
“Our corner defense was strong and we defended seven corners at the end of Q3,” said Dexter Coach Keely Tamer.
Pioneer advanced to the finals with a 1-0 win in overtime against Chelsea in the first semifinal at Huron. Klara Jones took a shot on a corner and Olivia Rollins scored on the rebound to send Pioneer back to the championship game.
The rivals met twice this season, tying 1-1 on Sept. 15 with Pioneer winning the rematch 1-0 a week later.
The two programs have combined to win five of the final six Michigan High School Field Hockey League Division 1 championships, with Dexter claiming a couple of Division 2 titles over the last three years as well. This will be the inaugural MHSAA Final for the sport which continues to grow all over the state.
Pioneer (14-6-1) won the final three MHSFHL Division 1 titles and is appearing in its seventh-straight championship game. Dexter (15-3-4) is playing in its fourth-straight championship game after winning MHSFHL Division 2 championships in 2022 and 2023 and finishing runner-up a year ago.
