Rollin' Rocks

Solid team effort, rock-solid goal-keeping propel Salem into Regional final, 2-1

  Mr. Soccer was done in by Mr. Miskovic Wednesday night at Livonia Stevenson High School.

  Dearborn's senior superstar Soony Saad, who is expected to be named Michigan's Mr. Soccer in the coming weeks, brought his "A" game to Wednesday's Division 1 Regional final, but it wasn't quite good enough against Salem, which prevailed, 2-1.

  Rock senior goal-keeper Sasa Miskovic showcased his All-State talent as he re-directed at least a trio of Saad's seemingly rocket-propelled shots to preserve Salem's second straight trip to the Regional final game.

  Salem will square off against PCEP neighbor Canton at 1 p.m. Saturday at Stevenson.

  Saad's dynamic talents were no surprise to Miskovic, who knows the Pioneers' scoring machine very well.

  "Soony and I have been teammates in club soccer for as long as I've played," revealed Miskovic, a few moments after his incredible effort. "This is the first time I've played against him. He's unbelievable.

  "That shot he scored on me..." Miskovic said, shaking his head in disbelieving awe.

  Salem (16-4-4) struck first against Dearborn just 4:42 into the contest when Dan Martin corralled a Lachlan Savage rebound and no-doubted a shot past Dearborn keeper Ramee Naja to put the Rocks ahead, 1-0.

  Buoyed by a a sterling defensive effort by Miskovic and back-liners John Krutty, Tommy Halewicz, Brandon Barfuss and Jake Genrich, Salem carried a 1-0 advantage into the break.

  However, the lead evaporated 3:58 into the second stanza when Saad controlled a pass 22 yards from the goal crease, dribbled 10 yards parallel to the end line while keeping a Salem defender at bay with his left arm, then launched a blur of a shot that eluded Miskovic's diving effort to knot the game at 1-all.

  Instead of sulking, the Rocks regrouped and retaliated less than two minutes later when Alex Tramel headed in a perfect free-kick pass from Genrich to give Salem a 2-1 advantage.

  "If Tramel doesn't score that goal, we're still playing right now," assured Salem coach Ed McCarthy. "We struggled a little bit with our attack tonight, so that goal was huge. That's the biggest goal we've scored all season."

  Dearborn put together a pair of scoring threats within the ensuing 10 minutes. With 33:12 left, Miskovic re-directed a Saad shot while on his back. Barfuss then cleaned up the potential game-tying effort by clearing the ball out of harm's way.

  With 24:38 to play, Saad drilled a net-seeking missile toward the top shelf, but a leaping Miskovic fisted the ball into the grassy field behind the net.

  "Sasa was equal to the task tonight," said McCarthy. "Soony Saad is the best player I've ever coached against and probably the best high school player in Michigan over the past 10 years. He's that good. It's like the ball is coming out of a cannon when he shoots it."

  Dearborn appeared to deadlock the game at 2-2 with 12:28 left when Saad beat Miskovic to a rolling ball 14 yards out, but the goal was disallowed due to an offsides call.

  With 6:20 left, Saad produced an electrifying scoring chance 10 yards out, but it was unplugged by a hustling Martin, who stripped the ball from Saad and cleared it 25 yards downfield.

  Miskovic's last highlight-reel save came with 4:19 left when he suffocated a quick-strike effort from Saad, who smiled and shook his head when he realized his club-soccer buddy had denied him again.

  "I feel wonderful for the guys that they get to play in a Regional final for the second year in a row," said McCarthy. "We struggled a little bit early on this season, but the guys took it as a challenge to improve.

  "The fact that either Salem or Canton is going to be playing in the final four is a great statement for not just the KLAA, but for our school district."

  Miskovic concurred with his coach.

  "Saturday's game is going to be huge," he said. "I have so much respect for all of the soccer talent at the Park. Soccer may not be a big sport in America, but it's big in Canton and Plymouth, Michigan."

Ed Wright can be reached at info@plymouthcantonsports.com or (734) 453-1980.