2012 Girls Soccer

Coach Jamal Mubarakeh’s team returned nine starters in 2012, and they were determined to bring home a state title after falling in the state semi-finals the previous two seasons. The Panthers captured the CAAC-Red League Championship. After defeating Holt and #3 ranked Williamston, DeWitt finished runner-up to the eventual Division I state champion Okemos in the CAAC Gold Cup title game at the end of the regular season. The Panthers entered the state tournament ranked #4 in the state and cruised past St. Johns (7-1) and Lansing Eastern (8-0) before clinching another district title, this time at home with a 4-2 victory over Lowell. DeWitt crushed Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (6-0) in the regional semi-final round, and two days later, they beat #5 ranked Grand Rapids Christian (1-0) to capture the program’s third straight Division II Regional Championship. Next was another berth in the state semi-finals, and their opponent was defending state champion Plainwell, who had ended DeWitt’s title hopes in 2011. The Panthers scored early and led for most of the game until Plainwell tied the score with just over four minutes left in regulation.  Unfortunately, the tournament run came to an end with a third consecutive overtime loss in the semi-final round, as DeWitt fell 2-1.  The team finished with an outstanding 23-5 record, setting the program’s record for most victories in a single season. Members of the 2012 Varsity Girls Soccer Team included: Molly Benton, Mackenzie Carter, Abby Cook, Katie Countryman, Jenna Crowley, Eryn Damen, Amanda Despins, Lauren Earley, Lindsay Garascia, Erica Goodenough, Quinn Hanses, Natalie Knauf, Jenna Krause, Abbey Maurer, Emily Murdoch, Gracie Noyola, Callen O’Keefe, Taylor Radel, Abby Ruch, Addison Schaar, Emmalee Skorich, Jessica Smith, Katy Stephan, Alex Toth, Courtney Wood, Assistant Coaches Micah Cousins, Joe Ishraidi, R.J. Rueckert and Liz Watza, and Head Coach Jamal Mubarakeh.