It's tempting to call the Plymouth girls soccer team's uplifting, incredible run to Saturday's Division 1 state title game a "Cinderella Story".

  But as we all know, Cinderella never played a lick of defense (the Wildcats' trademark) and her corner kicks were anything but stellar, which probably had something to do with those glass slippers.

  The Wildcats' magical ride has been more like a hybrid of "Rudy", "Hoosiers" and "Rocky" - all inspiring tales featuring athletes who accomplished remarkable, against-the-odds feats.

  When the District tournament kicked off June 3, the Wildcats' chances of winning a state title appeared just a

shade brighter than bleak. They had lost three consecutive games and faced the unenviable task of playing Northville, the No. 2-ranked team in the state.

  That's when things started unfolding in a Disney kind of way.

  The 'Cats derailed the Mustangs in a dramatic double-overtime shoot-out.

  After a stirring 1-0 overtime triumph over cross-campus rival Salem in the District championship game, Plymouth's run appeared all but over in the Regional semifinal when Katie Krajewski's sudden-victory shoot-out attempt was stopped by Dearborn keeper Samantha Wilson, meaning all the Pioneers had to do was convert a PK to advance to the final.

  But the referee correctly ruled that Wilson had moved before Krajewski struck the ball.

  Krajewski buried her re-kick, the Pioneers misfired, and the Wildcats' suddenly surging title chase continued.

  Thanks to another tension-packed shoot-out victory over No. 5-ranked Canton, the 'Cats earned the right to play No. 1-ranked Portage Central, a soccer juggernaut that featured the reigning Miss Soccer and hadn't lost a game since George Bush was President.

  To best describe the Mustangs' high-performance style of play, I'll steal a phrase from my favorite R & B performer Usher: Oh My Gosh!

  The Mustangs were so fast, strong and precise, I thought someone had kidnapped the U.S. women's Olympic soccer team and dressed them in Portage Central uniforms.

  But it turned out Miss Soccer and Co. were no match for Miss Williams, Miss Moss, Miss Heck, Miss Hengesh and Co., who prevailed 2-1 in yet another nail-biting shoot-out.

  Which brings the Wildcats to the pinnacle of Michigan high school soccer - Saturday's 3 p.m. Division 1 title game against Novi at the DeMartin Soccer Complex on the campus of Michigan State University.

  I have never been to the DeMartin complex but I have seen pictures of it, and there are a lot of seats.

  After the inspiring display of hustle, skill and heart the Wildcats have put on the past two weeks, they deserve nothing short of looking up at those seats at 2:59 p.m. on Saturday and seeing a sea of supporters.

  This is the final chapter of a once-in-a-lifetime show put on by a group of never-say-quit girls who, like Cinderella, weren't expected to get anywhere close to "The Ball."

  It promises to be a highly entertaining, high-intensity game that - who knows? - just may be decided by a shoot-out.

  Based on Plymouth's track record, Novi better hope not.

 
ED WRIGHT COLUMN ARCHIVES

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Success at the Park is incredible

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Lacrosse is a very cool sport

Wedgewood's performance was off-the-charts amazing!

CEBL's 8-9-year-old Sixers proved winning isn't everything

Canton's girls basketball team played like true champions

There are some 'sick' performances unfolding around these parts -- and we're not talking Swine Flu

Plymouth's Hahn well deserving of MHSAA's scholar-athlete award

Unnesessary red tape is tripping up Zech's college soccer career

Falcusan earns "Greatest PCEP Female Athlete 2000-09" title with convincing victory

Goble-Rolfe showdown was one for the record books

Local teams hit the high school basketball lottery

Unscientific survey will lead the "greatest" PCEP athlete from the past decade

They don't make sports games like they used to

Annual poem saluting athletes who excelled in 2009

Danny Cassidy will be remembered as a humble, happy young man who had the jump shot to be envied.

A serious medical condition robbed Brandon Wright of a chance to play football, but not his ability to inspire.

Steelers-Lions rivalry brings out the best in junior gridiron heroes

Let's bury that crazy John Glenn-Plymouth play

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Let's hear it for the band, high school volleyball and 88-cent Corn Flakes

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The story behind the creation of PlymouthCantonSports.com

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