Jonesville soccer is rewriting its history this season while closing in on double-digit wins and eyeing postseason success.
JONESVILLE — The Jonesville varsity boys soccer program is rewriting its own history this fall. At 8-5 overall, the Comets have already surpassed every season win total of the past decade and have positioned themselves for their first winning campaign in years. With several conference games left — and the state playoffs looming — coach Jeff Dice sees a team that is beginning to reap the rewards of a multi-year cultural build.
“This year we’ve got just a great bunch of athletes, a great bunch of kids,” Dice said. “If we can get our soccer IQ up a little more and our touch a little better, we’ll compete with those top teams.”
The Comets have been climbing steadily since 2023, when then-captain Warrick Elder led them to a shocking 8-5 overtime victory over Blissfield for the program’s first postseason win in more than a decade. They followed that with a 7-0 shutout in the 2024 playoffs, signaling a program back on the rise.
This fall, Jonesville has taken another step, winning six of its last eight matches while recording four defensive shutouts. A runner-up finish in conference play remains in reach. This winning stretch includes a 2-0 win over Onsted, 1-0 win over Michigan Center, 1-0 win over Manchester, 7-2 win over Olivet, 5-3 win over Leslie, an da 3-1 win over Bronson.
Much of the growth comes from a defense anchored by senior captain Marshall Baker.
"He's instrumental in so much of what we do” said Dice.
Dice praised his footwork and relentless energy. Baker, a four-year varsity player, remembers when wins were rare.
“I started as a freshman, and we weren’t very good at all,” Baker said. “Going into last year we had to really work as a team because some of our top players had graduated. We showed a lot of improvement, and now we’ve proven we can play with anybody. We just need to keep listening, move on the field, and dial in our passes if we want to make a run at a district title.”
Senior forward Carsen Cornila has powered the attack, recording a hat trick in a recent win over Leslie and scoring three more goals in a 7-2 victory against Olivet. Cornila credits the team’s summer workouts and steady infusion of new talent for the breakthrough.
“All these practices, we’ve been working, we’ve been grinding,” Cornella said. “A few years ago if we played teams like Grass Lake or Columbia Central we’d just get killed. Now we can give them a fight. Guys want it nowadays, and the program is really coming along.”
First-year goalkeeper Kaleb Males has also emerged as a key figure, stepping into the starting role and earning praise from Dice for his athleticism and clutch saves. Males turned in a standout performance in the first meeting with conference leader Brooklyn Columbia Central, helping the Comets stay within a goal despite being heavily outshot.
Jonesville’s improvement has come despite the challenge of limited youth development. The school does not offer middle-school soccer, meaning many players join the program as sophomores.
Dice said that makes every practice vital as newcomers develop their skills and game sense. Still, with 23 athletes on the current roster, the program is beginning to spread its wings and reach interested students all the way down at the freshman level.
Even with 10 players — nine seniors and an exchange student — set to depart after this season, coach Dice believes the culture is firmly in place. Team dinners at Dice’s house and a growing commitment from players have created a close-knit group determined to keep the momentum going.
“Our seniors have really played well,” Dice said. “They’ve set the standard for what Jonesville soccer can be.”
With a possible conference runner-up finish and the postseason ahead, the Comets have already secured a milestone year. A few more wins could cement it as the breakthrough season Jonesville has been chasing.
By the end of this week, the Comets will know where they stand in the conference final standings. Stay tuned to the Hillsdale Daily News for updates on the Comets' conference finish and their upcoming postseason results.
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This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Jonesville boys soccer eyes historic season with strong finish and playoff push
Category: General Sports
