MWPA Quarterfinal Preview of Rockford vs. Seaholm

One team is returning to the state tournament after falling out of the postseason unexpectedly early last spring, they other is trying to re-assert their former stranglehold on the state title. This is the final State Quarterfinal match up of the night between the Rockford Rams, and the Seaholm Maples.

Meet the West Region Runner Up Rockford Rams

Record: 33-8-1

Prior Match Ups: Rockford leads 2-0 (11-6 win 9/9, 7-5 win 10/8)

This Year: West Region Runners Up, District 2 Champions

Head Coach: Craig Peterman

Award Winners:

Logan Stevens - West Region First Team

Chay Chino - West Region First Team

Will Cheney - West Region Second Team

They are peaking perhaps at the best possible time. The Rockford Rams are an ASTOUNDING 24-2 in their last 26 games, only with narrow (one and two goal) losses to Hudsonville in that frame. Do the math - they started 9-6-1. It wasn't looking pretty. Sure, they played a grueling schedule, but no team has even come close to what Rockford has done in the last 22 years, 13 state titles, all since the turn of the millennium.

That said, none since 2017. They're trying to climb back atop the mountain, and step one is trying to handle a Seaholm team that played them within two goals in their second meeting, and played tough in their first a month prior.

Meet the East Region's Third Seeded Seaholm Maples

Record: 23-14

Prior Match Ups: Rockford leads 2-0 (11-6 win 9/9, 7-5 win 10/8)

This Year: District 3 Runners Up

Head Coach: Josh Stephens (East Coach of the Year)

Award Winners:

Owen Gregg - East Region First Team

Keegan Kosiba - East Region Second Team

Nevill Hargrave-Thomas (G) - East Region Honorable Mention

Seaholm played the East Region's second toughest schedule (20 top ten games, second only to Pioneer's 23), and is no stranger to stiff competition. East Region Coach of the Year Josh Stephens has his group confident coming off a Regional Third Place win over rival Birmingham Groves to earn the third seed and have the right to play a team they played within two goals a month ago.

Traveling West and taking on the Rams will be no small task, but having played both the second most games in the East Region and the second hardest schedule, expect the Maples to be battled tested and eager in their quest to advance to the state semi's against a good and white hot Rockford group.