Rule dispute forces playoff prep soccer game to be settled 3 days later

(WJBK) - Two high school soccer teams have a score to settle.

Troy Athens and Macomb Dakota went head-to-head in the playoffs Friday, but a dispute over the rules forced both teams back to the field Tuesday for a sudden-death kick off.

"Dakota didn't cheat; they took our goal away," said one parent.

"They" would be the Michigan High School Athletic Association in a disputed game between the Macomb Dakota Cougars against the Troy Athens Redhawks.

Referees decided that Dakota shot out of order during sudden death at last Friday's game against Athens.  They were penalized, taking away the goal which made the score 3-3 and set the stage for a two-shot shootout. 

Both teams scored in the first round of the shootout, while in the second round Troy scored but Dakota missed as the goalie blocked the blast.

Goalie Mason Mazias made the big save.

FOX 2: "How nervous were you before that last shot?"

"I was feeling every emotion there possibly is," Mazias said.

FOX 2: "Do you feel a little revenge?"

"I don't know if you want to call it revenge," Mazias said. "I think we got what we deserved. We all worked hard and we obviously just showed it."

"They're all good kids," said Matt Gennette, father of the Dakota goalie. "It ended the way it ended. I am proud of all of them. As parents we should all be happy. We didn't ask for this but this is how it ended and we can all move on."

And now Troy Athens will move on to the Division I semifinals.