Photos courtesy of Rhonda Kinahan Photography
North Muskegon’s girls soccer team is on a tear and little seems to be slowing down the Norse.
McBain Northern Michigan Christian certainly had trouble containing senior Natalie Pannucci & Co. during their Division 4 regional semifinal Wednesday at Big Rapids High School.
Pannucci netted a hat trick, while senior Sam Johnson tallied a goal and two assists in powering North Muskegon to a 4-0 victory and earning the Norse a spot in Friday’s regional final.
North Muskegon (16-3-1), which is riding a 14-game winning streak, will face Harbor Springs (8-12-3) at 6 p.m. Friday in Big Rapids. Harbor Springs beat Midland Calvary Baptist, 2-0, in the other regional semifinal Wednesday.
This will be the second meeting of the season for North Muskegon and Harbor Springs. During the Norse’s weekend trip up north April 21-22, they blanked Harbor Springs, 3-0.
North Muskegon junior Katie Kinahan and freshman Alex Johnson added assists against McBain NMC, whch closes the season with a 15-4-0 record.
North Muskegon dominated play against Northern Michigan Christian, as the Norse outshot the Comets, 16-1.
Behind a rock-solid defense, North Muskegon junior keeper Emma Lamiman recorded her ninth shutout during the Norse’s current winning streak. During that streak, North Muskegon has outscored opponents by a combined 60-6. Only one opponent has scored more than one goal during that stretch: Ravenna tallied two in North Muskegon’s 3-2 district semifinal victory last week.
Should North Muskegon defeat Harbor Springs, the Norse would advance to next Wednesday’s 6 p.m. state semifinal at Cedar Springs against the winner of Friday’s regional final between Kalamazoo Christian and St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic.
Last season, North Muskegon advanced to the state semifinals and lost 1-0 to Kalamazoo Christian on a scorcher of a night at Comstock Park.
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See North Muskegon girls soccer team’s 2023 regional bracket
