Heckuva Half

  If Salem soccer coach Ed McCarthy would have grabbed a notepad and pen a half-hour prior to Monday's District-opening game against Plymouth and written a desired script for the first half, it wouldn't have been much different than what actually transpired.

  The Rocks constructed a sturdy 3-0 first-half lead in a game they would go on to win, 3-1, over their cross-campus neighbor.

  Salem's fourth win in four tries this season against the Wildcats catapulted it into Wednesday's 7 p.m. semifinal game against host Northville. The Mustangs rocked South Lyon, 6-0.

  "I don't think we could have played much better in the first half," McCarthy admitted. "We got a good break on our first goal, but we deserved a three-goal lead the way we were creating goal-scoring opportunities.

  An early omen unfolded less than two minutes into the much-anticipated clash when Salem's Dan Martin took a feed from Alex Tramel and hit a shot that bounced high on the PCEP varsity stadium's turf field, slipped through the grasp of Wildcat goal-keeper Kyle Brindza and into the left corner of the goal to state the Rocks to a 1-0 advantage.

  Martin nearly padded the Rocks' lead 14 minutes later when Evan Antich dropped a pass back to him 23 yards out, but his sizzler sailed a few feet wide right.

  Antich didn't score Monday night, but he was a constant threat to the Wildcats' defense.

  "Evan Antich was dangerous all night," said McCarthy. "He played with a lot of energy. He did an excellent job of creating tonight."

  Salem's Sal Savage extended his team's lead to 2-0 with 17:32 left in the first half. The senior broke down the Plymouth defense and found himself wide open as he dribbled into the 18-yard box, forcing a 1-on-1 against Brindza.

  Savage juked right then slid a low shot into the left corner.

  Salem's lead ballooned to 3-0 1:16 before the break when Martin settled a rebound shot off the foot of Lachlan Savage and one-timed a hard shot into the middle of the net.

  Plymouth's attack grew in intensity in the second half. Ian Griffiths barely  misfired after accepting a pass from Daniel Jasewicz 8:20 into the final 40 minutes.

  Two minutes later, the Wildcats chopped their deficit to 3-1 when Vin Nguyen ripped a free kick from 25 yards out through the Rocks' wall and into the net.

  Griffiths came close to bringing his team to within one goal at the 18:50 mark, but his right-footed rocket banged off the right goal post.

  Brindza kept Plymouth to within two goals with 16:10 to play when he made a sensational sliding save on an Antich up-close laser.

  Salem keeper Sasa Miskovic was solid between the pipes, stopping eight Wildcat shots.

  Salem received stellar defensive efforts from John Krutty, Tommy Halewicz, Brendon Quinn and Brandon Barfuss.

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