Chiefs reach first Final Four since 1998 with stirring 1-0 triumph

  On a perfect fall Saturday afternoon, in the shadows of Ford Motor Company's Product Development facility, Canton's soccer team engineered a better idea against Novi: score early, then defend like your life depended on it.

  After 80 minutes of high-tension action, the Chiefs (20-3-2) rolled a 1-0 victory off the assembly line at Dearborn Edsel Ford High School.

  The game's lone goal unfolded in the 10th minute when Tyler Winningham secured a restart from Bobby Budlong and bent a low knuckler around Novi's defensive wall and past the keeper.

  "We knew we weren't going to get a lot of good opportunities, so we needed to put away the ones we got," said Winningham. "Bobby touched it over to me, I took the hit and just wanted to get it on net. I hoped for the best and we got it."

  "Bobby and Tyler did a great job of setting it up," added Canton coach George Tomasso, who was the goal-keeper on Canton's last state-championship soccer team. "The ball Tyler hit knuckled a little bit and dropped, which is what fooled Novi's keeper."

  The defensive play of the day -- among many -- was turned in by junior defender Connor Furgason, whose diving effort with 11 minutes to play knocked a Novi shot off the goal line.

  "Last year we were in this same game (a 3-2 loss to Salem) and the loss didn't feel very good," said Furgason. "This feels great."

  Novi cranked up its pressure significantly during the game's final 12 minutes, pushing four or five players to the front.

  "That was the most intense game I've ever played in from a defensive standpoint," Furgason said. "Their pressure in our box was enormous."

  Canton keeper Brandon Laabs came up big time and time again, doing a great George Tomasso imitation for most of the second half.

  The Wildcats nearly scored first 4:43 in when John DeLeon hit the cross-bar and Chase Jabbori's rebound sailed over the net.

  This is the Chiefs' first final-four appearance since 1998.

  Tomasso said he sees some similarities between this year's team and the one he helped guide to a state title in the early-90s.

  "They share some similar characteristics," he said. "But this team has done a great job of creating its own identity, it's own camaraderie.

  "They work as hard as they can in the game and they work harder for the guy next to them."

  Canton will battle No. 1 East Kentwood Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Holt High School. East Kentwood humbled Holland West Ottawa, 4-0, in Saturday's Regional final. It also handed Brighton a 3-1 setback in the Regional semis.

  Sterling Heights Stevenson and Grand Blanc will face off in the other semifinal game.

  The Division 1 state title game is set for Saturday at Troy Athens High School.

  "It feels amazing to get this trophy," Tomasso said, nodding toward the Regional hardware. "But we know we have a big game coming up Wednesday. It just gets harder from here on out."

  A detailed recap of the game will be posted on PlymouthCantonSports.com shortly.

Canton keeper Brandon Laabs hugs a Novi shot as a Wildcat closes in. (Ed Wright photo)

Shean Krolicki controls the ball in the shadow of the Wildcats' net. (Ed Wright photo)

Tyler Winningham (6) scored the game's lone goal. (Ed Wright photo)

Mitch Posuniak tries to dribble around the Novi keeper. (Ed Wright photo)

Novi's keeper punches the ball out of a scrum. (Steve Kahrs photo)

Sean Balnaves wins a 50/50 ball late in the game. (Steve Kahrs photo)

Tyler Winningham helps a Novi player up moments after the game ended. (Ed Wright photo)