On May 16, 2024, Elissa Mosallam of Dearborn, wearing a black jersey, becomes tangled with Northville's Whitney Mails as she competes for a loose ball during a KLAA crossover game. Mossalam and the Pioneers suffered a 6-0 loss to the Mails and the visiting Mustangs. (Samantha Elliott — MediaNews Group)
DEARBORN – The Kensington Lake Activities Association girls soccer crossover game was held around the conference Thursday night.
The matchups included a battle of third-place teams, with Dearborn High School taking on West Division foe Northville.
In the end, it was a tough game for the local Pioneers, who lost 6-0 to the visiting Mustangs.
Photo Gallery: Girls Soccer – Northville vs. Dearborn High School
Although the score didn't go as expected, Dearborn was able to take some positives from the loss and use their final league game to prepare for the upcoming playoffs.
“It was just a game of trying to figure things out and see what clicked,” coach Tony Ventura said. “We were hoping to get out of this without any injuries or cards, and we were able to do that. And it gave us an opportunity to play a little different style than we normally play. .”
After falling behind 3-0 in the first half on penalties, free kicks and what Ventura called a “beautiful goal,” Dearborn played the game to see what would happen in the second 40 minutes after halftime. We started adjusting the plan.
“We like to own it, but (Northville) wouldn't allow us to own it,” he said. “We had to counter-attack a little more, but you never know who you’re going to run into in district, so that was a good thing.”
While the score may suggest that was not the case with the Mustangs' trio of goals in the second half, the big draw for Dearborn was freshman goaltender Jenna Medley, who dove in all night with save after save. I continued to stretch.
“If it wasn't for (Medley), there would have been mercy today,” Ventura said. “Jenna is still in her early stages and her confidence is growing with each of her matches. Everything is getting better and better and it's only a matter of time before she's in full control.
“When you see her start vocalizing, you know she's under control.”
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Dearborn (12-4-1) has one more regular season game before heading to the MHSAA Division 1 state playoffs, which begin next week.
That tweak comes in the form of a date with local rival Dearborn Heights-Crestwood.
Both teams have several club players on their roster, so there's no shortage of familiarity. It will also be the first meeting since Crestwood knocked the Pioneers out of the playoffs last year.
As a result, tensions will likely increase in the rivalry.
“When it’s a rivalry, it’s a rivalry, so you never know what’s going to happen,” Ventura said. “They proved that last year by beating us in the district final. The game before that went our way, so you never know what can happen.
“We don’t disrespect anyone.”
The teams will face off in Crestwood on Saturday, May 18th at 6 p.m. Both teams will then reconvene at Dearborn High School next Wednesday, May 22, for a district round game.
In the second of three games of the day, the Pioneers will play Taylor High School (5:30 p.m.). Crestwood will soon tangle with Brownstown-Woodhaven (7:30 p.m.).
The first game of the day features Wayne Memorial and Westland's John Glenn (3:30 p.m.).
