MELVINDALE BOYS' SOCCER HOLDS OFF PARMA WESTERN; EARNS FIRST-EVER REGIONAL TITLE

After defeating Tecumseh in the regional semifinals on Wednesday, Melvindale returned to action on Friday at Meadows Stadium in Novi for the regional championship match. The Cardinals battled with Parma Western, who ousted Dearborn Divine Child in the other semifinal on Wednesday. For the first time in school history, Melvindale is a regional champion in boys’ soccer. They Cards knocked out state-ranked Western by a final of 2-1. Both goals for Melvindale (15-3-2) came in the first half and both were generated by Alhusain Yahya and Carlos Huerta. In the 25th minute, Huerta assisted Yahya to open up the scoring. The Cardinals made it a 2-0 lead over Western (18-4) going into halftime as Yahya and Huerta traded roles, with the former delivering a cross-field pass to the latter in front. Melvindale had another prime scoring chance in the 56th minute but it was squandered due to an offsides call. Western's Trey Cottingham, who scored in the Panthers' 5-2 win on Wednesday, saw a scoring opportunity go by the wayside in the 43rd minute when a shot sailed left of the net. Cottingham, however, would get another chance in the 75th minute after Melvindale was called for a penalty in the box. Cottingham would not miss this time, ending the Cards' bid for a shutout and cutting the Panthers' deficit to 2-1 at the time. Eventually, though, the clock would run out and Melvindale finished on top. The Cards have beaten their five postseason opponents by a combined score of 17-4 and no team has managed more than one goal against them during that run. Up next for Melvindale is the Division 2 state semifinals, which are to be played at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac. The Cards' next opponent is Fenton (16-5-1) out of the Flint Metro League. The Tigers, who took out another state-ranked foe in Detroit Country Day in their respective regional final on Thursday, have won four in a row and eight of their last nine overall. Melvindale will face Fenton on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Prep. The winner will play for the D2 state championship on Nov. 2 and will face either Mattawan or the winner of the Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern vs. Byron Center regional championship game. Facebook Twitter Email Print Save MORE INFORMATION +2Melvindale boys' soccer tops Tecumseh; advances to regional final w/ PHOTO GALLERY Melvindale boys' soccer tops Tecumseh; advances to regional final w/ PHOTO GALLERY Melvindale returned to action on Wednesday in a Division 2 regional semifinal at Meadows Stadium in Novi. The Cardinals continued their playof… Melvindale boys' soccer edges Allen Park for district title w/ PHOTO GALLERY Melvindale boys' soccer dominates Cesar Chavez in playoff opener w/ PHOTO GALLERY Melvindale, Allen Park set to battle for boys' soccer district title w/ PHOTO GALLERY The News-Herald week in review, October 20-26

MELVINDALE BOYS' SOCCER HOLDS OFF PARMA WESTERN; EARNS FIRST-EVER REGIONAL TITLE

ALEX MULLER

News-Herald | 10/28/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Lifetouch