Soccer Rolls to Stockbridge Invitational Title
by Keith Michaels
After a slow start to the 2019 season, the Stockbridge boys’ soccer team found its footing and rolled to three straight wins last week including a pair of wins to claim the Stockbridge Invitational title Saturday, September 14.
The Panthers dropped their first six games of the season, but have been playing better of late.
Stockbridge opened the tournament with a 3-0 win over Barry County Christian.
Junior Luke Suojanen scored a pair of goals to lead the Panthers and assisted on Jonah Huskey’s goal. The Panther defense and goaltender Adam Twining were stellar, keeping BCC at bay. Twining came away with 12 saves in net.
In the championship, the Panthers cruised to a 6-1 win over Bellevue.
Huskey led the offense with a hat trick of three goals. Suojanen also collected a hat trick and added an assist. Keepers Twining and RJ Fillmore combined to stop eight shots in net.
“Our defense was on fire,” assistant coach Bill Suojanen said. “Junior captains Isaac Lance and Ben Young, and sophomore Jeff Rogers anchored the defense with numerous steals and cutting off the opposing offenses.”
The Panthers opened the week by picking up their first win of the season over Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 3-1.
The offensive leaders were once again Suojanen with two goals and Huskey with one.
“We have limited subs so most of the team play the whole 80 minutes,” Coach Brent Young said. “I’ve been impressed how they have come together and work as a team.”
