By David Fleet
dfleet@mihomepaper.com
Swartz Creek — After an 11-0 regular season run for the Lady Martians which included a Flint Metro League title and a fourth consecutive District Championship a stellar 16-3-2 season came to a close on Tuesday.
The D2 11th ranked Goodrich Martian Girls Soccer team fell to the D2 ninth ranked DeWitt Panthers at Swartz Creek in the first round of the MHSAA Regional playoffs 1-0.
The teams battled to a nil-nil score at the end of regulation. The game stayed scoreless through overtime before Panther Midfielder Madelyn Takagishi hit the game winner. It was the second consecutive year in a row that the Martians lost to the Panthers in a regional shootout.
“The girls are rockstars,” said Head Coach Josh Back, 2025 Flint Metro League Coach of the Year. “The girls threw everything at DeWitt and DeWitt survived. This is a group of tough kids and this year’s team will be missed.”
The road to the Regional Championship for the Lady Martians was exceptional.
On May 31, Soph. Baylor Lauinger tallied two goals to lead the Lady Martians past the St. Clair Saints 2-1. The Saints had knocked off Goodrich in its past two meetings. It was their fourth-straight district title.
On May 30, Lauinger had three goals, Ana Perry two, Lucy Rafferty, Abby West and Jenna Stockwell all had one goal as the Lady Martian Soccer team routed the Port Huron Red Hawks 8-0 in the district semi-finals. The Martians won the Flint Metro League and were unbeaten (11-0) in league play.
“Baylor came through in the Districts with five goals,” said Back. “But this season she had 18 goals and 10 assists, which includes some big goals in big games. Still, it takes the whole team to put together a great season.”
Goaltending has been lights out, added Back.
Freshman netminder Abigail Gagnon (00) allowed just one goal en route to the district title.
“Abby makes some big saves, but the back-line has been huge this season,” he said.. “Lily May, Kaylee Eickhoff and Lucy Rafferty really stepped up this year.”