South Lyon -- Defending Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 champion Birmingham United beat Rockford 15-7 on June 4 to advance to the state finals against South Lyon.

   Junior Zoe Smith scored six goals and junior Katie Miner added three goals to lead Birmingham. Senior Lauren Acker found the net twice and senior Katie Stephens, senior Carly Signorello, junior Rachel Miller, and senior Mattie Palmer all scored against Rockford.

   The outcome was never in doubt as Miner opened the scoring 15 seconds into the game and Birmingham raced to a commanding 8-2 lead at the midpoint of the first half.

   South Lyon beat Huron Valley United 13-3 in the early D1 semifinal game on June 4 to earn their first trip to the state finals.

   Senior Kelsey Kaminsky scored four goals and senior Kim Fix tallied two goals forSouth Lyon. Junior Sarah Green, senior Rachel Iturralde, senior Melissa DiRado, sophomore Ashley Glenn, senior Tarrah DeBord, senior Valeri Pesonen, and freshman Ashley Mushna all added goals.

   The Lions led 7-0 at half and 11-0 midway in the second half before Huron Valley found the net.

   Birmingham (16-5-1) played a very tough schedule this year with four of their losses coming to out-of-state powerhouses. Their only loss in state was an 8-6 setback early in the season against Grosse Pointe South. Otherwise, the champs have rolled through their Michigan schedule, which includes a 10-8 win over three-time defending Division 2 champion Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart. Birmingham has powered through the playoffs with impressive wins over then No. 1-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian (14-4), Troy (16-1), Troy Athens (15-4), and now Rockford.

   Head Coach Jen Dunbar's team won the 2007 Division 1 title beating Ann Arbor Pioneer 16-2.