On October 13, 2025, the Sterling Heights Stevenson Titans pulled off an impressive upset in the boys’ soccer Division 1 district semifinals, defeating the Warren Cousino Patriots 4-2. The match took place at Troy Athens, where senior goalkeeper Antoni Zajac delivered a standout performance that proved crucial to the Titans’ victory.
Zajac’s exceptional goalkeeping kept Cousino at bay, recording multiple saves that thwarted the Patriots’ attempts to level the score. “He won us the game,” said Stevenson coach Kelsie Mistretta. “It was the best game he’s played all season. He showed up when we needed him to.” The Titans, now boasting a record of 9 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws, will advance to face the hosting Red Hawks for the district trophy.
This match was particularly significant for Zajac, who recognized the stakes involved. “I realized a couple of weeks ago that these would be our last games in the tournament, and one of our toughest,” he shared. “I just had to prepare myself for that and do what it takes.” The Titans had previously faced Cousino, tying 2-2 on September 17 and losing 1-0 in their league finale on October 6.
Stevenson took control early in the match, scoring two quick goals to establish a lead they would not relinquish. Junior Yevhen Fedoryshyn opened the scoring with a breakaway goal, followed shortly by another from junior Rivaldo Nouna, who volleyed in a long throw-in from senior Raban Razoky.
Cousino, with a record of 9 wins, 8 losses, and 3 draws, came out with renewed energy in the second half, managing to outshoot Stevenson. They finally broke through when junior Frankie Toma scored on a rebound. Despite this, Stevenson quickly responded with a goal from senior Aiden Yaqo, restoring their two-goal cushion.
Cousino continued to battle, narrowing the score to 3-2 with a goal from senior Cynric Jacob Gorospe. Yet, Stevenson sealed their win when senior Alex Shopinski scored on a breakaway with just over eight minutes remaining.
Despite the defeat, Cousino’s coach Jordan Wilczak praised his team’s achievements this season, which included two MAC Blue titles and one MAC White title. “Our seniors did a great job,” he remarked. “But we started slow tonight being down 2-0, and that hurt. Their goalie played great, and we could never fully recover.”
Overall, Zajac registered six saves and was pivotal in maintaining the Titans’ lead throughout the match. The victory positions Sterling Heights Stevenson for a chance at the district title, with their next match set against Troy Athens.
