An Ann Arbor school will play for the MHSAA field hockey state championship after Pioneer and Skyline meet in a semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Canton High School.
The all-city matchup guarantees a local team in the title game, set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Michigan State University’s Ralph Young Field.
Both programs dominated regionals.
Pioneer, the defending state champion, beat Dexter 3-0 in the regional final Monday, Oct. 26, at Northville. It was the Pioneers’ third consecutive postseason shutout, according to MLive. Senior Klara Jones scored twice, Lillian Schultz added a goal and Olivia Rollins recorded an assist. Goalkeeper Mara Boullion made six saves.
In the regional semifinal, Pioneer blanked East Grand Rapids 5-0.
Skyline was just as sharp. The Eagles beat Bloomfield Hills Marian 6-0 in the regional final and Bloomfield Hills Academy of Sacred Heart 8-0 in the semifinal round, according to MLive’s scoreboards.
The Pioneer-Dexter regional final was a rematch of the 2025 state championship game, which Pioneer also won. The MHSAA championship history lists Pioneer’s 2-0 victory over Dexter in that final.
Pioneer’s 2025 championship was its 18th under coach Jane Nixon and the first awarded under MHSAA sponsorship, according to a USA Field Hockey nomination page. Pioneer won four consecutive state titles from 2022 through 2025.
In the other semifinal Wednesday, Saline takes on Detroit Country Day at 7:30 p.m. at Canton. The Hornets advanced with a 7-1 regional win over Ann Arbor Greenhills, as The Saline Post reported. Elle Pufpaf, Emily Sontag and Ella Arvai each scored twice, and Emma Finocchiaro added a goal. Saline has outscored its playoff opponents 23-1.
The semifinal winners meet Saturday, Oct. 31, at Michigan State for the state title.
