Shelby’s girls picked a good time to play some of their best soccer of the season. The Tigers’ defense definitely has been on point in the state tournament.
Shelby earned a hard-fought, 2-1 overtime victory over perennial power McBain Northern Michigan Christian in a Division 4 district final Friday night at Lakeview.
Lydia Soelberg’s goal in OT lifted Shelby (9-9-2), which advances to Tuesday’s 5 p.m. regional semifinal at Big Rapids, where the Tigers will face seventh-ranked Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (16-3-2).
NorthPointe Christian defeated top-ranked Western Michigan Christian in Friday’s district finals, 3-2, after the Mustangs knocked off third-ranked North Muskegon in Tuesday’s district semifinals, 2-1.
Shelby’s district finals contest against McBain Northern Michigan Christian (16-3-2) — ranked 15th in the state — was a rematch of last year’s district championship won by the Comets, 3-1.
Shelby turned the tables on Friday. Molli Schultz scored a goal for the Tigers to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Defense and goalkeeping have been calling cards for Shelby in its state tourney run. The Tigers shut out Brethren in the opener (8-0) before beating Big Rapids Crossroads Academy in the semifinals (4-0).
Prior to that, Shelby fell to Division 3 district finalist Montague in the regular-season finale (8-2) and lost to North Muskegon prior to that (5-0).
Shelby finished ninth in the 11-team West Michigan Conference, but the Tigers are one of only two squads from the league left standing. Fremont edged Montague, 2-1 in overtime, in a Division 3 district final Friday night at Manistee.
