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Sports

South Soccer Team Takes Regional Title

The Grosse Pointe South girls soccer team defeated Ann Arbor Pioneer to win a Division 1 regional championship.

The girls soccer team is headed to the state semifinals after scoring early and then playing defense on Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Devils beat Ann Arbor Pioneer 2-0 in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Region 2 Final at Dearborn Edsel Ford High School. Grosse Pointe South will face Novi in a Division 1 state semifinal on Wednesday at Farmington Hills Harrison High School.

on Friday night at Troy Athens High School.

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“We're most excited because we've worked really hard for it,” said Blue Devils' goalie Joanna Manos, who earned the shutout.

Gretchen Dettlinger and Danielle Manning scored for Grosse Pointe South (16-4-1), staking it to the eventual winning margin within the game's first 18 minutes.

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“We had the opportunities and scored early,” said Blue Devils' coach Gene Harkins. “And after the second goal, we knew that it would be tough getting behind us.”

Dettlinger opened the scoring 12:09 into the contest when she put in a loose ball in front that had bounced off the hands of Pioneer goalie Kaitlyn Bedolla. Emily Flom got the assist.

Manning made it 2-0, 5:35 later, after she gained possession of the ball at midfield and outran the Pioneer defenders down the middle of the field to create a breakaway. Manning finished the effort by putting in a shot to Bedolla's left.

“I saw an opening in the defense,” Manning said. “The goalie stayed in the middle (of the net), so I just picked a side.”

It was all about the GP South defense and Manos after that.

“Two lapses of concentration, in reality, cost us two goals,” Ann Arbor Pioneer coach Lumumba Shabazz said. “Credit Grosse Pointe South. They rallied well and played well defensively.”

Grosse Pointe South in last Wedesday's regional semifinal while Ann Arbor Pioneer beat Saline 2-1.

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