Saxony soccer claims third in Class 1

Saxony Lutheran had a good send-off for its seniors that helped define the program.
After a disappointing loss in the Class 1 state semifinal game, the Crusaders bounced back to defeat Laquey 2-0 on Saturday to clinch third place in Class 1 at the World Wide Technology Center in Fenton.
Mallory Kohlfield ended the deadlock in the third place game with a goal in the 46th minute, off an assist from Faith Dreyer, while Camille Richey tacked on an insurance goal 14 minutes later, giving Saxony the result it was looking for in the state tournament.
The third place finish is the culmination for the eight member senior class that has helped return Saxony to its former glory.
Just three years ago, in the 2021 season, the Crusaders finished with a subpar 4-15 record, a far cry from the state championships seasons in 2015 and 2016.
Part of a program that’d slipped from its dominant status a half-decade prior, the 2024 class worked valiantly to push the Crusaders back to where they had been, despite the uphill battle.
That senior class includes Annie Adams, Clara Brune, Maci Hollis, Mallory Kohlfield, Payton Meier, Grace Ozark, Kylie Peters and Katie Swain.
“We knew 2021 was going to be tough, but we knew what we had as far as what we would be able to build to,” Saxony Coach Chris Crawford said. “That takes a whole community of people. It takes parents believing in the coaches, even when you’re getting blasted by everyone in the area and not throwing a fit. The kids showing up every day, even though you got your butt kicked all season long. It takes everybody to build something like this and achieve it.”

State semifinal
The Crusaders played valiantly, but it was a late goal that squashed the dreams to play for the state championship game.
It appeared as if the game was destined to go to overtime, but a late rush by the Eagles saw Brynne McFarland cash in a rebound with just 40 seconds left in regulation to give Summitt Christian the victory as they hung on in the final minute.
Early on in the contest, the Crusaders carried the pace of the game, generating the first good scoring chance of the game.
However, it was the Eagles cashing in first as Grace Hay put home a rebound to make it 1-0 Eagles in the 24th minute. From there Summit Christian controlled much of the action, but the Crusader defense held strong.
They kept it a one-goal game and they finally cashed in with Mallory Kohlfeld finishing off a beautiful cross into the box to even the contest at 1-1 in the 34th minute.
The goal by Kohlfeld sent the two clubs into halftime tied at 1-1.
Out of the half, the tightly-contested matchup continued, as neither team was able to get anything going offensively.
With just 11 minutes remaining, the Eagles threatened with a strong rush into the box, but Saxony Lutheran’s Grace Ozark made a terrific save lunging to her right to keep the game tied.