South beats Liggett 1-0 for D1 state title

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — There are some images you just can’t shake out of your head, and for Grosse Pointe South girls hockey, that was neighborhood rival Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett celebrating its state championship win over South last season.

“It was hard for us to know we worked so hard all season,” South junior goaltender Rosie Smith said. “We worked hard all season to have that outcome. We tried our best, but it still wasn’t good enough. You know Liggett and we’re both from Grosse Pointe, so they flaunted it in our faces.”

The Blue Devils had Liggett in their sights all season, suffering two one-goal losses and forcing a tie during the regular season.

South wasn’t playing on its heels like it used to against the Knights, so when the two teams met up in the Michigan Girls High School Hockey League Division 1 state championship on March 9 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, South was ready for its moment in the spotlight.

With a goal from South senior forward Maeve Hix three minutes into the third period, South earned its revenge over Liggett in a 1-0 victory in the state finals, snapping Liggett’s streak of three consecutive state titles.

“I just felt very excited, and hearing the crowd cheer really put it all together,” Hix said.

With last season’s loss in mind, the Blue Devils were sure to soak in every ounce of the moment they could.

“They had no problem cheering on and on and making Liggett wait on the blue line forever,” South head coach Alexis Bohlinger said. “It felt like they were standing there for hours, and they had no problem making them wait and watch the whole thing.”

The Grosse Pointe matchup featured an array of all-state talent including South senior Anne Wayman, a first team all-state honoree, and Liggett’s Sofie Ancona, who was named Miss Hockey for the 2023-2024 season.

All of the MGHSHL knows what each of the forwards brings to the table as the leading scorers for their respective squads, and both coaches knew exactly how to game-plan heading into the state finals.

“I think both sets of coaches made sure to cover the best goal scorer on each team,” Bohlinger said. “Our leading goal scorer, Anne Wayman, when she got the puck, she had to dump it right away because someone was right on her. We did the same thing in the other direction to Sofie (Ancona). We stuck someone to her the whole game. You shoot down the leading scorer and everyone else is trying to do the work in the open parts of the ice.”

But a state finals game doesn’t enter the third period tied at zero without stellar goaltender play from both sides as Smith, a first team all-state honoree, went head-to-head with Liggett senior Brooklyn Peshl, a second team all-state honoree.

While each team’s defensive unit was impressive all night, Smith and Peshl made the saves when they needed to, keeping their teams in the game all night.

After two consecutive scoreless periods, a Liggett penalty put South on the power play early in the third period. As a Liggett player went to clear the puck into South territory, Hix intercepted the puck and fired a shot over Peshl’s shoulder for the game-deciding goal.

South last won a state title in 2018 prior to practically running the 2000s era, winning seven titles from 2000 to 2010.

The Blue Devils will lose a senior class loaded with talent and leadership, but they’re departing with their heads held high and a state title to their resume.

“I think we came out and gave it our all realizing that this is it,” Smith said. “Our seniors have been working at this for three years and have lost every single time. This is the year we could finally do it and finally beat them.”