Sailors fall in conference play for first time since 2011

Local Sports Journal

MUSKEGON – It has been a difficult two-day stretch for the Mona Shores boys soccer team, losing a 4-3 overtime thriller Wednesday to Grand Rapids Union, and then were stunned Thursday with a 3-2 loss to Muskegon.

Mona Shores senior Christian Zirchauer breaks between two Union players Wednesday. (Photo by Eic Sturr)

Mona Shores senior Christian Zirchauer breaks between two Union players Wednesday. (Photo by Eic Sturr)

Both defeats were at the hands of OK Black Conference foes.

Before Wednesday, Mona Shores hadn’t lost a league match since 2011.

Thursday, the visiting Sailors took a 1-0 lead into the half time break after Jake DeRemer, assisted by Blake Yin, scored late in the first half.

Muskegon grabbed the lead in the second half with two goals, by Angelo Hernandez and Adrian Briseno,  before the Sailors’ Devin Buit, assisted by Christian Zuchauer, tied it at 2-apiece with a late goal in regulation.

After a scoreless overtime session, Muskegon’s Hernandez scored the game-winner with just 43 seconds remaining in overtime No. 2.

Sailor goalkeeper Eli Bowers finished with three saves, as the Sailors outshot the Big Reds 12-6.

Big Red goalkeeper Demetrio Lopez turned back 15 shots to earn the victory.

Sailor Jonah Shafer elevates for a header Wednesday versus Grand Rapids Union. The Sailors' loss to the Red Hawks makes their first conference loss since 2011. (Photo by Eric Sturr)

Sailor Jonah Shafer elevates for a header Wednesday versus Grand Rapids Union. The Sailors’ loss to the Red Hawks makes their first conference loss since 2011. (Photo by Eric Sturr)

Wednesday versus Union, the Red Hawks went up 2-0 off goals by Gonzalo Alfaro, while Zuchauer cut the lead to one with a goal. A Sailor goal by Matt Hoover sent the contest into overtime.

Hoover scored again in the first overtime to go up 3-2, but Unions Daniel Santana tied it at 3-all with a late goal.

The Red Hawks’ Emiliano Esparza notched the game-winner in the second overtime.

With the Muskegon match, the Sailors, now sitting at 7-4-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the league, have played in four-straight overtime matches.