EAST LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater boys varsity soccer team stayed undefeated Saturday, capturing the Maroon Group championship of the Eaton Rapids Division 2 Invitational played at the East Lansing Soccer Complex.
The Cardinals opened the day with a come from behind 2-1 win over Haslett. Mana Ahmed scored with 13 minutes to play to tie the score, assisted by Mohamed Salem. Ahmed then scored a penalty kick goal with 3:30 to play for the win. Balal Nasser made one save in goal.
In the semi-finals against Stevensville Lakeshore, Ahmed had Coldwater’s lone goal in regulation, which ended tied 1-1. Mohamed Nagi had the assist. In the overtime shootout, Coldwater beat the Lancers 4-3 for the win. Nasser made 6 saves in goal.
In the championship game, Coldwater scored 2 goals in the first 6 minutes against Auburn Hills Avondale and held on for a 2-0 victory. Mana Ahmed had both goals, one assisted by Shuaib Aljabaly and the other by Mohamed Nagi. Balal Nasser had 6 saves in the shutout.
Mattawan won the White Group at the tournament, defeating Grand Rapids Northview 3-0 in the final.
With the wins, Coldwater improves to 6-0 on the season. They will play at Richland Gull Lake in non-conference action Tuesday, with the Junior Varsity at 5:00 p.m. and the Varsity at 6:45 p.m.
—GIRLS GOLF—
Coldwater traveled to the Eldorado Golf Course in Mason to participate in a unique golf invitational – the Mason “Sun Dried” Girls Golf Invitational. Mason hosts the “Sun Dried” music festival each year and this tournament is a part of the events going on in the community. What makes it unique is that two people play their ball in stroke play, two people play as a best ball team, and two people play as a scramble team.
Coldwater shot a combined score of 377 in the invitational which was good for a tie for 7th place overall out of 16 teams. Davison won the event with a team score of 345. Jayla Goodwin and Claire Sheppard played their own balls and Jayla shot a 96 and Claire had a 99. Hunter Jenkot and Micki Slack teamed up in the best ball competition and shot a round of 94. Molly Smith and Gabriel Boston were the scramble team and they fired a round of 88 for the event.
Coldwater travels to Adrian on Monday for the Maple Leaf Invitational and the JV team will be traveling to Marshall to play in a jamboree hosted by Marshall.
—BOYS TENNIS—
Coldwater scored a pair of victories at the Sturgis Invitational. The Cardinals defeated Battle Creek Lakeview 5-3 and Sturgis 7-1. Shane O’Grady, Austin Butler and Porter Skidmore all won their two singles matches. Jake Matevia and Blake Yates won both of their #4 doubles matches. The match against the Trojans was closer than the final score would indicate. The Cardinals won three third set super tie breakers and six out of the eight tiebreakers played against the Sturgis.
—CROSS COUNTRY—
The Bronson boys finished fourth on Saturday at the Harper Creek Invitational. Harper Creek won the meet with 38 points followed by Hanover-Horton with 48 points, Gull Lake with 77 and Bronson with 115. Blake Bucklin was the top finisher for the Vikings as he was 19th. Teammate Colin Ransbottom was 20th. Three other Vikings were in the top 35. Luis DePaz was 25th and Marcus Broom was 26th and Bryce Kosmerick was 35th.
