Local Sports Journal
One day after a disappointing loss on the soccer field, the Western Michigan Christian Warriors turned in a solid all-around game and earned an 8-0 victory over Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy.
Eli Vandervelde scored two goals, his first two as a varsity player, and Chaise Schuiteman also had two goals, including the eighth goal with 2:08 left in the game to finish it off. The Warriors also scored two header goals off corner kicks, one by Josh Binnendyk and one from Rob Hallenbeck (first varsity goal).
In the second half, WMC (3-2) received goals from junior Alex Rop, who scored in the first minute of the final half, and sophomore Tyler Cook (first varsity goal).
WMC 4-0 at the half. Jacob Berens played until the midpoint of the second half before giving way to junior Christian Rogers, who made several solid saves to keep Burt Lake (5-3) off the board.
The Warriors outshot Burt Lake 23-8.
Burt Lake features high-scoring Aaron Chatfield, who came into the game with 27 goals.
“We didn’t mark him, but we wanted our guys to communicate and hand him off,” WMC coach David Hulings said. “He could beat five guys, but we had a sixth guy there.”
Chatfield scored a goal in every game last season until the Warriors blanked him in the Division 4 regional finals last season. He had scored a goal in each of Burt Lake’s seven games this season, including eight in a game against Roscommon, until Friday night.
