IRISH BOYS SOCCER MAKE SCHOOL HISTORY

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November 2, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

Early goals lead Irish past elks for first state title.

The Notre Dame Prep Boys Varsity Soccer team made history, capturing the first MHSAA Championship in program history following a 3-2 win over Elk Rapids in the MHSAA Final held at Grand Ledge High School. The Irish had reached the MHSAA Final once previously in school history, falling to Plainwell 2-0 back in 2000.

Notre Dame Prep held a 13-1 shots advantage in the opening half, finding the back of the net three times to build a 3-0 lead heading into halftime. Ben Liparoto put the Irish on the board at the 31:33 mark of the first half, burying a shot off of a cross from Danny Lebanion.

Notre Dame Prep increased the lead 10 minutes later, as Will Lanham placed a shot just inside the right post, off of a feed from Lebanion, to make the score 2-0. With 5:52 remaining in the half, the Irish would get a third goal as Liparoto scored his second of the game, with an assist going to Lanham.

In the second half, Elk Rapids would battle back, getting on the board with 10:06 to play to cut the deficit to 3-1. Despite a pair of red cards with 4:47 remaining that would but the Elks down two players, Elk Rapids would score again with just 32 seconds remaining to put the pressure on the Irish. However, Notre Dame Prep was able to keep possession and run out the clock, securing the first state title in program history.

The Irish finish the season at 23-2 overall, having been ranked first in Division Three for the majority of the season. During the postseason run, the Irish defeated the second, fifth, 10th, and 13th teams on the way to the title.

Lanham, a four-year starter and team captain, noted "It's awesome to make history for my school.  It just means a lot with everybody here, all our peers, our athletics directors and everyone here. It’s great to finally win it.”

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.