In order for a team to score a goal in soccer, all that has to happen is the ball has to cross the goal line. Simple enough, right?

Actually, it’s a little more complicated than that. A referee has to see the ball cross the goal line. Otherwise, it’s just hearsay and conjecture.

The Saline High School girls soccer team found that out the hard way on Thursday night against Pioneer.

With the Southeastern Conference Red Division title hanging in the balance, Saline appeared to have broken a scoreless tie around the 55th minute with a header off of a corner kick.

Though the ball looked like it crossed the line in the air, the Pioneer defense was able to clear it before it touched the net or the ground behind the line.

Neither touching the net nor the ground behind the goal line is required for a goal to count, but it certainly makes a referee’s job much easier. No goal was the call on the field.

The game ended in a scoreless draw, which gave Pioneer the SEC Red title outright.

Saline coach Dana Restrick wasn’t happy with the non-goal call or her team’s inability to finish other opportunities.

“We’re 7-0-4 in the SEC and we’ve only been scored on once…not that I’m bitter,” Restrick said sarcastically.

Restrick’s sense of humor was the only thing that remained dry as the rain poured down from start to finish in the game.

Pioneer coach Lumumba Shabazz called the goal line play “solid defending”, and noted that even if it had gone in, there was a pretty egregious non-call on a Pioneer breakaway in the box shortly after, so it all balanced out and served as a fine pre-district tuneup.

“It was good exercise, bad weather conditions, horrible reffing, just like the playoffs, isn’t it?” Shabazz said. “Kids came out hard, competed, nobody cried about it, put forward a good effort.”

As for the SEC White division, Dexter took first place for the 10th time in 11 years.

TENNIS CHAMPS

Pioneer has won the SEC girls tennis championship every year since joining the league in 2000. This year was no exception as the Pioneers won six of eight flights on Tuesday and accrued a total of 38 points (out of a possible 40) at the Red Division championships.

“It was pretty nice because it was the same competition as at regionals four days prior and that’s not always easy to do,” said Pioneer coach Tom Pullen.

Dexter won the SEC White Division.

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

The downpour that hit southeast Michigan this week caused the cancellation of the SEC boys and girls track and field championship meets. Rather than make up the meets on Memorial Day weekend, or have it during the week of the state championships, team conference title were given based on regular season dual meet results.

In the SEC White, Chelsea won the boys and girls titles. In the SEC Red, Huron won the girls crown while Pioneer, Monroe and Saline -- each with 4-1 dual meet records -- shared the boys team title.

Have a story to tell about a local high school team? Email petercunningham@annarbor.com or call the prep sports desk at 734-623-2565. Follow Pete Cunningham on Twitter @petcunningham.