Everybody wanted in on his North Muskegon girls soccer team’s state championship.
“Last night we had a team dinner.
“I’ve never been on a team that has cared about each other so much, love each other.
North Muskegon’s Hope Johnson goes for the ball against Royal Oak Shrine Catholic during the MHSAA Division 4 girls soccer championship at the DeMartin Soccer Stadium at Michigan State University on Saturday, June 19, 2021.
North Muskegon adopted the “all in” mantra this season, borrowing the mindset from former University of Florida women’s soccer coach Becky Burleigh as well as a team-building organization called “Lead ‘Em Up.” Players painted their fingernails green, fashioned green hair ties and sported green dots on the backs of their hands.
After the 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, North Muskegon returned to the field this spring with even more determination.
North Muskegon celebrates the win during the MHSAA Division 4 girls soccer championship at the DeMartin Soccer Stadium at Michigan State University on Saturday, June 19, 2021.
“I remember doing a little practice for an interview , and they were even pointing up in the stands, ‘That’s where we’re hanging a banner,’” said Parnin, who in his first full season as Norse head coach picked up where predecessor Ryan Berends left off.
North Muskegon got on the board against Shrine near the midway point of the first half.
Johnson kicked off the surge nearly seven minutes in, when she sprung free for a one-on-one against the Shrine keeper, put on a juke move and had the whole net to herself.
North Muskegon’s Katie Kinahan celebrates a goal during the MHSAA Division 4 girls soccer championship at the DeMartin Soccer Stadium at Michigan State University on Saturday, June 19, 2021.
“They did a really good job of taking advantage of any mistake that we made – any bad touch or anything or misplayed ball.
We always say, ‘Our family is better than this team,’ and we just remember that and we go out there and we crush teams,” Fairfield said.
This North Muskegon team clearly was different.
“We started in December, running outside in like 20-degree weather,” Olsen said.
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