Exciting news from the high school soccer field as the Lumen Christi girls soccer team is heading to the Division 4 state championship. The Titans secured their spot with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Oakland Christian in Tuesday’s state semifinal at Kettering.
The Titans initially trailed after an early Lancers goal but fought back to equalize. The game remained tense at 1-1 for most of the second half until Paityn Petito netted the game-winner with just over two minutes remaining.
Brooke Lefere added an insurance goal in the final minute, sealing the win for Lumen Christi.
The match was a battle, with both teams locked in a stalemate until the closing minutes. Lumen Christi’s defense, led by standout goalkeeper Izzy Ermatinger, made crucial saves to keep the Titans in the game. Coach Blake Newman-Gillig praised his team’s patience and resilience, saying, “This feels amazing.”
Now, Lumen Christi looks forward to Friday’s championship game against Kalamazoo Christian, who defeated NorthPointe Christian 2-1 in their semifinal. This marks the Titans’ first state championship appearance since 2000. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in East Lansing. Go Titans!