West Catholic Got 1 Shot On Goal All Game, And The League Has No Answer For Country Day's Defense

You guys, I just saw the craziest thing go down in East Lansing! Birmingham Detroit Country Day snagged the MHSAA girls soccer Division 3 championship, taking down Grand Rapids West Catholic 1-0 on Saturday, June 13, at DeMartin Field. Seriously, it was wild! Freshman Aliya Saad punched in the only goal with less than 10 minutes left in the first half, and you could just feel the energy explode. Saad, already looking ahead, said it best, "It feels great knowing that my next three years ahead of me are going to be big ones to live up to. I’m just so glad I could put that ball into the back of the net for my teammates, my seniors, my captains, the people who can’t come back next year.” Talk about setting the bar high!

One Goal for the Win, Zero Answers for the Defense

Okay, Aliya Saad got the glory, absolutely, and it’s a massive moment for Country Day, their first title since 2021 and seventh overall. But let's be real, while Saad put the ball in the net, the real story here, the *only* story, was that defense. West Catholic, our opponents, managed a measly ONE shot attempt *all afternoon*, and get this, it wasn't even on target! Country Day, meanwhile, was slinging 15 shots. That’s not a game, that’s a clinic. West Catholic even tried to switch things up with a formation adjustment in the second half, but it was like throwing a pebble at a brick wall. Coach Laura Hamway’s defensive scheme just ate it up. And you know West Catholic was desperate. Freshman midfielder Lexy Druelle threw three flip-in passes into the box in the final minute, just trying to create *anything*, but the Yellowjackets' D was just too good.

Jenna Shaban: The Wall That Harvard Is Getting

Coach Hamway was absolutely buzzing about her squad. She said, “There was times today you stand in awe on the sideline of their creativity, numbers in the attack, purpose in the attack and Jenna [Shaban] leading the defense. It’s just so clean and an amazing group to be around.” And "clean" doesn't even begin to cover it! This team only gave up 12 goals all season long, scoring 61, and get this, just *one* goal through the entire MHSAA tournament! That’s just bonkers. And at the center of it all? Jenna Shaban, the returning D-3 defensive player of the year. This woman is a high-level Elite Club National League player, and she's off to Harvard next year. Hamway raved about her, saying Shaban "is able to remind the defense, when it’s needed, to go hard and play direct and when we can build." And you can hear her, too! "I love hearing her voice out here. If you hear her, she’s communicating the entire game," Hamway added. Shaban herself echoed that, saying, "I think our communication, our work ethic on the field never went down. And when we can keep that up, I think we can do anything.” Absolute unit. This championship for Birmingham Detroit Country Day is a testament to relentless defense and one clutch goal. Shaban called Saturday's victory her "No. 1" career moment, which, after watching that defensive masterclass, I totally get. What a way to cap off a season, and what a team to watch grow in the years to come with talent like Saad on the field!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.