DeWitt boys soccer caps big week with CAAC Gold Cup title

MASON — Mason Raborn has played more of a defensive role in his time on the pitch in the DeWitt soccer program.

So scoring opportunities don't come often for the DeWitt junior.

But something was different for Raborn during the CAAC Gold Cup final against Mason on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Raborn found the back of the net twice while helping the No. 4 seed and Division 2 No. 15-ranked Panthers capture their first Gold Cup title since 2023 with a 3-1 victory over No. 2 seed and Division 2 No. 11-ranked Mason.

Raborn scored the opening goal in the ninth minute of play and had the final goal with nine minutes to play for DeWitt (10-4-5). The final goal came on a ball officials ruled went past the goal line on a play where the Mason goalkeeper didn't field the ball cleanly and pushed the lead for DeWitt to 3-1.

"Just take the chances," said Raborn, whose goals Thursday marked the second and third of his two-year varsity career. "If you don't shoot, you don't score."

Joseph Zubal added the other goal for DeWitt, which scored twice in the opening 15 minutes to gain early control while avenging its 2024 Gold Cup final loss to Mason.

Nicholas Chase had the lone goal for Mason (10-3-3).

Thursday's win was part of a strong finish to the regular season for the Panthers, who avenged an earlier 5-0 loss to Division 1 No. 4-ranked Okemos with its 4-1 victory in the Gold Cup semifinal Tuesday, Sept. 30.

"It's huge and I'm really, really happy for the boys," DeWitt coach Joe Ishraidi said. "It's been a really tough schedule this year, especially the last few weeks. To get two results against a couple of really quality teams, it means a lot. It's good momentum going into the playoffs."

The Panthers have played in a number of tough games this fall in a schedule that has included one-goal setbacks to East Kentwood and Warren DeLaSalle and a recent 2-0 win over Division 4 state-ranked Lansing Christian. Ishraidi said what made the difference in their big week was executing the things they've talked about.

Raborn agreed.

"(This Gold Cup title) feels great," Raborn said. "We've been to the final three years in a row and this feels amazing. Our team has grown so much. In the beginning of the year it was rough. We kind of got off to a rough start and had a rough patch there. The last few games have been great and we really took it to the next level."

Contact Brian Calloway at [email protected]. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Gold Cup title gives DeWitt boys soccer momentum for state tournament