Despite a hard-fought tie against Anchor Bay, the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team now turns its focus towards staying committed for the remainder of the season. Just minutes away from victory, the Blue Devils fell short after a last-minute goal slipped into the net.
Many coaches, including head coach Joe Cada, emphasized the importance of playing a complete game, noting that the late breakdown wasn’t something anticipated.
“I think we looked like the much better team today,” Cada said. “We just played 75 minutes of soccer, not 80.”
In the MAC Red division, even a moment of letting up comes with its consequences, as shown by the last five minutes of the game. Still, these lapses don’t erase the positives, as South’s aggressive playing style set the tone.
“Our pressure was really good,” Cada said. “[Anchor Bay] were very frantic just to get the ball off their feet because they couldn’t handle the pressure.”
Throughout the season, South’s varsity team has shown significant growth and team chemistry, allowing them to control most of the game. For forward Hayden Drouliard ’27, these improvements have helped him contribute more on the field.
“We dominated on the ball, playing quick passes and getting around the defense into the goal,” Drouliard said. “We’re just not finishing as much as we should.”
The team still remains determined to prepare on and off the field, and Drouliard noted that progress comes from more than just what happens during the game.
“Watching film and hanging out with the guys [is most important],” Drouliard said. “We need to prepare mentally, and recover for Monday.”
The tie doesn’t end South’s push for the postseason; with seven games left, the Blue Devils have plenty of time to prove themselves. Next up is against Utica on Monday, Sept. 22, with captain Joey Reid ’26 highlighting the team’s gritty attitude and strategies heading into the next game.
“We have the talent to beat them,” Reid said. “It’s not necessarily overworking ourselves, but going in with the right mindset.”
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal consistency and effort for a team to receive the thing they want: victory. Grosse Pointe South’s boys varsity soccer team has shown both, but they’ll need to keep working hard to maintain it after this game.
“It’s feast or famine. Everyone has got to be there,” Reid said. “You have to want to succeed on your own, but also want to do it for the team.”
