Clarkston -- On a t-t-typical spring day in M-M-Michigan – leaden skies, mid-30s temperatures, gusty winds, icy-cold rain – when an Eskimo wouldn’t venture forth from his igloo, girls teams from Allen Park Cabrini and Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes/Everest Collegiate shed their sweat suits and mittens to play soccer.
The Lakers overwhelmed the Monarchs, 8-0, Tuesday in a game called halfway through the second half under provisions of the mercy rule.
How cold was it? Well, the scoreboard blacked out for 3-4 minutes near the end of the first half, and the number “5" wouldn’t replace the “4" when the Lakers scored their fifth goal for a 5-zip halftime lead.
Yet, it wasn’t so cold that common courtesy was forgotten. When a referee’s cap blew off his head, someone yelled to Lakers senior Emily O’Brien to retrieve it. So intent was she to get the hat back to the official, she missed a ball rolling past her.
Coach Rich Ludwig and the WLOL/EC bench got a good laugh.
“You have manners, Emily,” the coach yelled.
It wasn’t that the Lakers were rude or anything to Cabrini by mercy-ing them. Ludwig has the nucleus of last year’s Class D champions back with an eye of repeating just like their basketball sisters did in March.
WLOL/EC is tenth among all classes of girls soccer teams in Oakland County, which, by the way, is topped by Bloomfield Hills Marian.
In contrast, Cabrini Coach Frank Mlodzik has a very young team: just four seniors and six juniors to go with nine sophomores and eight freshmen. “We’re going through a learning process,” he said.
One of the seniors, goalie Kellie Cser, made several outstanding saves of the 28 shots the Lakers aimed at her. Otherwise the game might have been mercied much earlier.
Just as sensational was senior Meghan Topolewski. She scored two of her four goals in the opening six minutes, both assisted by sophomore Ava Doetsch, the second on a header off Doetsch’s kick from the corner.
Doetsch tallied the next three goals, the second a 30-yard blast from the left sideline. Freshman Lindsay Straw was credited with assists on the three scores.
Topolewski connected for her third goal to open the second half, sophomore Jessica Parry lobbed one over the goalie’s head, and Topolewski scored unassisted to end the game at the 20:23 mark.
Most of the action occurred on Cabrini’s side of the field. Lakers goalie, senior Chantelle Ludwig, had just three saves. She moved around now and them to let everyone know she wasn’t frozen stiff. She has five shutouts in six games this year.
The 5-foot-5 red-headed, be-freckled Topolewski will be plying her soccer talents at the University of Toledo in the fall on a four-year scholarship.
“I like the atmosphere there,” she gave as her reason for choosing Toledo over other Mid- American Conference schools, Dayton, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. She’s got to know some of the Toledo players from playing with them at various soccer camps.
But before that all happens, there are a couple of other dates on the team’s mind: May 22 to avenge a 2-1 loss in last year’s CHSL C-D Championship to Riverview Gabriel Richard. Incidentally, the only blemish on WLOL/EC’s 5-0-1 record this spring is a 2-2 tie with Richard.
The other date is in June, the state’s Class D title game, the opportunity to win a fourth state title. Topolewski, Doetsch, O’Brien, Abbey Troy and Kayleigh Meloni were on the Lakers 2010 and 2011 basketball champions and the one in soccer in 2010.
“I’m hopeful we’ll get a chance to do it,” said Meghan.
By then, it should be warmer. Don’t bet on it. This is Michigan.
