Boys Soccer District Preview.

Written Tuesday October 10th at 5:00 PM

Here is my insight and projections on the boys soccer districts.

District Six @ Oxford

Davison vs OXFORD

Flushing vs LAKE ORION

 

Grand Blanc vs Lapeer

Grand Blanc/Lapeer vs CLARKSTON

 

Thoughts/Projection: This should be a fun district at Wildcat Stadium. Clarkston is the early favorite but Grand Blanc has been red hot lately and could pose problems for the Wolves. Lake Orion and Oxford should meet in the district semifinals which should be a very interesting matchup and it’s hard to beat a team three times. Any team can win this district so here goes nothing, a team that is red hot right now and with apologies to Clarkston Athletic Director Jeff Kosin this is the team I’m going with. PICK: GRAND BLANC.

Ant viewpoint: This district looks very interesting, two state powers in Oxford and Clarkston, two quality programs in Lake Orion and Grand Blanc. A lot of strong quality match ups in this district. Most pundits will have Oxford and Clarkston in the championship game. Oxford beat Clarkston on the blue turf 2-1 but it will be a challenge to beat a quality Clarkston program two times in a row. Lake Orion has played both Oxford and Clarkston tough (losing 2-1 and 1-0 to Oxford and 2-1 to Clarkston). LO also is a very young team which helps going into the future. Grand Blanc has been surging lately winning the SVL Championship though they did lose early in the season to Clarkston 3-2. They and Lapeer tied 2-2 their last meeting. Flushing has also had a very successful season in the Flint Metro League. This is a pick em district, Clarkston is the favorite based off playoff experience but you can't host Oxford out especially with it being on their home turf. Lake Orion and Grand Blanc are more than capable of playing spoiler while Lapeer and Flushing are more than capable of upsetting LO and GB. PICK: CLARKSTON.  

 

District Seven @ Bloomfield Hills

Walled Lake Northern vs WEST BLOOMFIELD

Walled Lake Central vs Milford

 

Waterford Mott vs Lakeland

Waterford Mott/Lakeland vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS

 

Thoughts/Projection: This should be a very interesting district. Bloomfield Hills should be the favorite in this district and they have a great draw as well. Walled Lake Central has always been tricky while Milford is a sleeper. I see this being a Bloomfield Hills/Walled Lake Central district final with the Blackhawks moving on. PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS.

Ant viewpoint: Most years in soccer, the OAA is better than the Lakes Valley, this is no different Bloomfield Hills is most likely the favorite in this district and is also the host. Bloomfield Hills and West Bloomfield tied each other 1-1 earlier this season. Bloomfield Hills also beat Waterford Mott 5-0. West Bloomfield/WL Northern will be interesting, West Bloomfield defeated WL Northern 4-0. WL Central is the best team in the LVC pairing posting two wins over Waterford Mott (5-1 and 5-0) and Milford 2-1. This district, it would not surprise me to see an all OAA final. PICK: BLOOMFIELD HILLS.

 

District Eight @ Livonia Stevenson

Livonia Stevenson vs FARMINGTON

South Lyon vs NORTH FARMINGTON

 

Novi vs South Lyon East

Novi/South Lyon East vs Novi Detroit Catholic Central

 

Thoughts/Projection: This should be a very interesting district. Novi Detroit Catholic Central has played a very tough schedule. Livonia Stevenson has been very good all season. Novi is the wildcard in this district and could give the Shamrocks some trouble. I think the Spartans continue their ride but it won’t be an easy one. PICK: LIVONIA STEVENSON.

Ant Viewpoint: Very hard to pick against Detroit Catholic Central with how tough a schedule they play year in and out. Livonia Stevenson is the host and has had a great season up to this point despite losing the KLAA Championship to Northville. Novi is the wildcard in this district. Farmington and North Farmington are both competitive teams but sadly they are not to the level of some of these teams in this district. PICK: DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL

 

District Thirteen @ Berkley

BERKLEY vs ROYAL OAK

TROY ATHENS vs SEAHOLM

 

TROY vs GROVES

FERNDALE vs SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

 

Thoughts/Projection: This is a really brutal district. Berkley has the top seed and was rewarded with State ranked and White champ Royal Oak and if they get semifinals then they could deal with a red hot Troy Athens squad. Troy got the best draw on the other side. The Bears were wronged in this district but it will motivate them to do their best and they should with the Hurley crowd at their side. PICK: BERKLEY.

Ant viewpoint: The kiss of death district, like the district at Oxford, this district has it's fair share of strong state ranked teams. At some point through the season, four teams in this district were state ranked. Berkley defeated Troy Athens and Troy 2-0 in league play and has been nationally ranked all season, at present they are number one in the state. They will play Royal Oak who won the White and has played strong competition playing almost every team in the district. The other side features Troy Athens and Seaholm, both of whom are in the Red this season. The Red Hawks and the Maples tied each other at one but the Red Hawks have been playing better while the Maples most part a young team and very strong all around program will only keep getting better and better. The other side of the draw features Troy and Groves. Troy has always been a strong program in the Red while Groves has been a strong program in the White. The last match up features two blue teams, Ferndale and Southfield A&T, both match ups Ferndale won convincingly 7-0 and 6-1 respectively. Whoever wins this district will be prepared come Regional time. Five teams are capable of winning this district but it is hard to pick against the hosts. PICK: BERKLEY    

 

District Fifteen @ Adams

STONEY CREEK vs ROCHESTER

STONEY CREEK/ROCHESTER vs Utica Eisenhower

 

Romeo vs Utica

Romeo/Utica vs ADAMS

 

Thoughts/Projection: This should be a fun district. Utica Eisenhower is the favorite and been the most consistent coming into this district but Stoney Creek has really started to improve. The Cougars have a dangerous matchup with Rochester in the first round. Adams has home field but a tough matchup awaits them with Romeo or Utica in the next round. I see this being an Adams/Utica Eisenhower district final and until anyone dethrones the champs that what I see moving on. PICK: ADAMS.

Ant viewpoint: Every year, the Rochester/Utica district is always challenging. You have two state ranked powers in both Adams and Utica Eisenhower. Adams is the defending Class A Champions and has home field in the district. Every team in this district traditionally has been very strong and will continue to be that way. Stoney Creek and Rochester is a very intriguing matchup. Rochester beat Stoney Creek 2-0 in a very competitive matchup at Stoney Creek. Would not expect anything different when it comes to competitiveness in that game. Every team in this district is capable of an upset, both Adams and Ike should be on upset alert. The final will likely be Adams/Utica Eisenhower in a matchup that can go either way but it's tough to pick against the champs: PICK: ADAMS.

 

District Twenty Four @ Dearborn Divine Child

Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy vs Detroit Renaissance

Hamtramck vs OAK PARK

 

Melvindale vs Warren Fitzgerald

Melvindale/Warren Fitzgerald vs Dearborn Divine Child

 

Thoughts/Projection: This is an interesting district. Dearborn Divine Child is the favorite and the host but fell to Melvindale 5-1 in a recent matchup. Oak Park has had things rough but they have a chance to do some damage. I see Melvindale upsetting Dearborn Divine Child again and taking this district over Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy. PICK: MELVINDALE.

Ant viewpoint: Dearborn Divine Child is the favorite in this district but Melvindale will be their biggest challenge. From an OAA perspective, it has been challenging for Oak Park but there is a lot of positives with the Knights. A lot like Southfield A&T, Oak Park fielded a soccer team for the second year in a row. While the wins will come, the fact of having a program out there provides strong dividends. PICK: DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD.

 

District Twenty Six @ Avondale

AVONDALE vs Birmingham Brother Rice

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs PONTIAC

 

Madison Heights Lamphere vs Waterford Kettering

Madison Heights Lamphere/Waterford Kettering vs Orchard Lake St. Marys

 

Thoughts/Projection: This should be a very interesting district. Orchard Lake St. Marys got a great draw and should get to the district finals with no issues. Avondale is the host in this district but they have a very tough matchup with Birmingham Brother Rice and if they get by that one either Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood or Pontiac. This looks to be a Orchard Lake St. Marys/Avondale district final with Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood as a darkhorse but this will be the Eaglets time to shine. PICK: ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS.

Ant Thoughts: Avondale is the host in this district recently won the OAA Blue. The district will be very challenging for both OAA teams as Avondale plays Catholic League power Brother Rice while Pontiac plays Cranbrook Kingswood who could be a potential darkhorse in this district. Should Avondale and Pontiac win their first round games, it will be the fourth time both these teams would play each other. Pontiac defeated Avondale 2-1 at Avondale but Avondale won 3-0 at Ferndale (Ferndale Tournament) and 4-0 at Pontiac. Avondale has also played strong OAA powers in Clarkston and Lake Orion and at one point was state ranked. This looks to be an Avondale/OLSM district final, with it being at Avondale's home field and despite OLSM's better schedule, going with the home OAA team. PICK: AVONDALE