Belleville earns emotional victory day after teammate passes away
Belleville senior Payton Mathis, whose sister and teammate Harper lost a valiant battle with brain cancer on Monday, receives a hug from teammate Aubrey Volk minutes before Tuesday night’s game against Canton.
In the hours leading up to Tuesday night’s KLAA soccer match against Canton, Belleville senior captain Payton Mathis was unsure if she was ready to play — just one day after her sister and teammate Harper passed away following a valiant five-year battle with brain cancer.
“Payton was debating whether she felt like playing,” said her dad, Justin. “Her mom (Shellie) and I simply told her, ‘It’s totally up to you, but Harper would want you to play tonight’. We told Payton we’d be there for her.”
Payton Mathis not only played in the KLAA consolation bracket semifinal match-up, the captain played lock-down defense from her right-back position to help fuel the Tigers’ 1-0 overtime victory over the Cobras.
“I asked Payton in a gentle text, ‘What are we going to do for tonight?’,” shared Belleville Head Coach Joe Zarka. “She replied, ‘I’ll be there coach. Just have a sub ready just in case.’
‘Togetherness, love and care’
“At the beginning of the season, we didn’t know the challenges we’d have to face. I said at the parents-players meeting before the season, the only things that are going to get us through are togetherness, love and care. Those are the things that we’ve really relied on, especially the past couple of days.”
Following the tragic news of Harper’s death, Zarka asked his team if they were OK to play Tuesday night.
“They all said, ‘Let’s go play for Harper’,” he said. “They played a fantastic game, especially considering the circumstances.”
Playing with heavy hearts, the Tigers played stride for stride with the Cobras, whom they played to a 2-2 draw in April.
Tulik was tremendous
Belleville senior goal-keeper Addison Tulik, who has committed to play for Minnesota State beginning in the fall, was outstanding. Possibly her best of several brilliant saves during regulation play came with 31:50 left in the second half when she went horizontal to re-direct a shot by Canton’s Ava Murphy.
Tulik also scored on an overtime penalty kick — and sealed the 3-1 goal differential in OT with a diving save of a well-struck shot by Cobra Emily Fagerman.
Freshman Dallas Caudill booted home the game-clinching net-finder in overtime.
Both Canton keepers — Campbell Appert played the first half; Elliana Hassan played the second half and overtime — were stellar.
Canton keepers shined
Hassan made a couple game-saving plays late in regulation when the Tigers were turning up the pressure. She also recorded a diving save in the overtime.
Belleville has had one of its most successful seasons in years, building an 8-5-3 record while playing against a talent-loaded schedule of opponents.
Tuesday’s win advanced the Tigers into the KLAA consolation bracket final Friday night against Novi.
Win or lose, you can rest assured they’ll play Harper Strong.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
