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On Top Of The
Soccer World Again
STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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a residence of
24
July 6 • 2017
jn
oach Barry Brodsky and his
Birmingham Marian High
School girls soccer team are
state champions once again.
The Mustangs defeated Grand
Rapids Forest Hills Northern 2-1 in a
battle of undefeated teams June 16 at
Williamston High School, earning their
sixth Division 2 state title in Brodsky’s
16 years as coach and first since 2012.
Marian also has been Division 2
state runner-up three times during
Brodsky’s tenure.
This year’s state title was a bit dif-
ferent than the others. It was the first
time Marian rallied for a victory in the
state championship game.
Marian trailed Forest Hills Northern
1-0 at halftime despite dominating
the game. Three Marian shots that
appeared to be heading into the net
were turned away by Forest Hills
Northern defenders.
Playing from behind wasn’t a famil-
iar spot for the Mustangs. Forest Hills
Northern’s goal was the first allowed
by Marian in seven postseason games,
and the Mustangs hadn’t trailed at
halftime all year.
“We played extremely well in the
first half against Forest Hills Northern
so we weren’t concerned, although we
certainly didn’t want to fall behind 2-0,”
Brodsky said. “We thought we’d have
more chances to score and we certain-
ly had the firepower to score.”
Marian’s domination continued in
the second half, and this time it paid
off on the scoreboard. Ellie DeConinck
scored twice and the Mustangs pulled
out the victory.
Marian (24-0) ended up outshoot-
ing Forest Hills Northern 18-5 and put
14 shots on goals to the Huskies’ four.
Forest Hills Northern (20-1-3) took just
one shot in the second half.
So was this Brodsky’s most satisfy-
ing state championship because of the
comeback, or because Marian lost in
the state title game in 2013 and 2014
and more recently, fell 2-1 on pen-
alty kicks to eventual state champion
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in the state
semifinals last year?
No.
“It’s the latest state champion-
ship so winning is a great feeling,
but I don’t put one above the others.
They’re all special,” said Brodsky, a 1973
Southfield-Lathrup High School gradu-
ate who makes his living as a certified
public accountant.
The win over Forest Hills Northern
capped quite a season for Marian,
which won 17 of 24 games by shut-
outs, outscored its opponents 105-8
including 24-1 in the state playoffs, was
ranked No. 1 in Division 2 all year, and
won the Catholic League champion-
ship.
Marian also was undefeated in 2004,
when it went 25-0.
Brodsky has had a great run as a
Jewish coach at a Catholic high school.
He said he enjoys coaching at Marian
and plans to continue doing it.
“We don’t talk about religion much
within our team. More about life les-
sons, although I try to relate to things
the girls learn at school,” Brodsky said.
Brodsky’s daughter Allie Brodsky
played for him for four years at Marian
and went on to play soccer for four
years at Kalamazoo College.
“My daughter had a great experience
at Marian,” Brodsky said.
Allie helped Kalamazoo win the
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic
Association regular-season title last fall
in her senior year.
She’s taking a year off before she sets
her sights on going to medical school.
GOLF CLASSIC UPDATES
There are a couple of updates from the
report on the 35th annual B’nai B’rith
Great Lakes Region Golf Classic held
last month at Tam-O-Shanter Country
Club in West Bloomfield .
Great Lakes Region scholarship win-
ners Danielle Silverman, Rachel Pesick
and Jason Jubas were honored at the
dinner that followed golf.
Here’s some additional information
about the recipients.
Silverman graduated from Frankel
Jewish Academy and will attend the
University of Michigan; Pesick gradu-
ated from Walled Lake Northern High
School and will attend Florida State
University; and Jubas graduated from
Farber Hebrew Day School and will
attend Yeshiva University.
Each received a $2,500 scholarship
based on academics, need and com-
munity service.
It was the fourth year scholarships
were awarded.
Bobbie Levine is the program direc-
tor for the Great Lakes Region. Her
name was incorrect in the story. •
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