WARREN, Mich. - The De La Salle varsity soccer team captured the program's 29th MHSAA district championship with a 7-0 win over Lakeview High School Oct. 22 on St. John Baptist de La Salle Field. The district title marks the third consecutive for Coach Thaier Mukhtar and the Pilots, along with the distinction of being the first-ever district title to be won on the Pilots’ new home turf. 

It did not take long for the Pilot offense to ignite as Spencer Lebeau netted the first Pilot goal 27 seconds into the contest. In addition to Lebeau’s early score, goals from CJ Fritz, Francesco Pizzo and Marco Foltz propelled the Pilots to a 4-0 halftime lead. 

“Our boys have been playing well lately and I’m glad they didn’t take them lightly,” Mukhtar said. “I thought Spence Lebeau set the tempo early and we never looked back.”

The Pilot offense did not let up in the second half. Francesco Pizzo added his second goal of the contest just five minutes into the half. Matthew Rafferty and Franz Baan also tallied second half goals to cement the 7-0 final. 

The Pilots improve to 15-2-3 on the season and will advance to the MHSAA Regionals when they travel to Northville High School to square off against the Shamrocks of Detroit Catholic Central, 9-0-3,  in the regional semi-final at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27. 

“We think they’re the best team in the state,” Mukhtar added. “Anytime you play another Catholic League team, it’s a war. Right now, we are excited to just have a chance to redeem ourselves and get that victory over a team we have not yet beaten this year.”