CRUELEST FATE: OT foul, yellow card lead to stunning loss for Chiefs
Canton goal-keeper Campbell Appert elevates for a save during Thursday night’s game.
Canton sophomore goal-keeper Campbell Appert played like Superwoman during the first 98 minutes and 35 seconds of Thursday night’s Division 1 regional final against Saline at Woodhaven High School.
On multiple occasions, she extinguished scoring chances by soaring above scrums of buzzing Hornets and securing the ball on the doorstep of the goal line.
She went horizontal at least twice to turn away what looked like sure Saline goals.
And the 10th-grader played with the poise and skill of a senior, blanking the often-attacking Hornets time after time.
Defining moment
However, 85 seconds before a looming penalty-kick shootout to decide who would advance to the D1 final four, Appert was whistled for a foul and given a yellow card after she made contact inside the 18-yard box with Saline senior Zoe Rumohr, who was motoring up the center of the pitch on a break-away.
Appert, who was forced to leave the game because of the yellow card, was replaced by back-up keeper Julia Tasker, who was asked to do the improbable — stop a 12-yard penalty kick after coming off the bench with just a few seconds to get loose.
Rumohr struck a low shot into the lower-left corner of the net, giving Saline a 1-0 lead, which it easily protected during the final 1:25 of the second overtime.
Although Appert’s foul did not appear blatant, a pair of high school girls soccer coaches who were watching the game from a vantage point not far from where the game-deciding penalty occurred agreed that — while agonizing for the Chiefs — the foul was the right call.
Tough call
Appert calmly pleaded her case to the official seconds after the call. The official could be heard replying, “That’s not my fault.”
Saline keeper Norah Dawid was equally effective for the winners — although she wasn’t forced to make as many spectacular saves as Appert.
Saline (15-1-5) advanced to play Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in Wednesday’s D1 semifinal.
Chiefs denied … barely
Chief junior Nora Schley came within an eyelash of putting Canton ahead with 15 seconds remaining in the first 10-minute extra session, but her well-struck shot from 15 yards out was diverted by an alert Saline defender.
Prior to Rumohr’s successful PK, Canton had not allowed a goal in 338 minutes of post-season play.
On the bright side — which was hard to focus on for the Chiefs after the crushing setback — Canton will return all but four seniors from its regional final contingent in 2024.
In addition to Appert’s strong play, the Chiefs were bolstered by stellar efforts from defender Sydney Bohn, Scarlett Nuechterlein and Grace Tarquinto, who cleared a net-seeking shot from the shadow of the goal 10 minutes into the second half.
The match was well-played and, at times, physical.
It was a contest both teams probably deserved to win — but no team ever deserves to lose in the heart-breaking fashion Canton did, correct call or not.
