Mona Shores boys soccer clinches 3-1 win against Whitehall in rainy Monday night match-up [VIDEO]

By Dave Hart
Local Sports Journal

WHITEHALL – The Mona Shores boys soccer team scored three unanswered goals to defeat state ranked Whitehall 3-1 on a soggy Monday night in Whitehall.

The Sailors (4-2-2) entered the second half with the game tied 1-1 and with the momentum on their side.  Then Vikings senior goalkeeper Hayden Collins exited the contest after he drilled his head into the near post on a diving save early in the half.

Ken Boynton drives the ball up field for Mona Shores past Whitehall’s Ethan Avery. Photo/Jason Goorman

“He passed all the tests but I was not going to put him back in the game,” said Vikings coach Bryan Mahan whose team is ranked No. 6 in Division III.

The Sailors took advantage of backup Viking goaltender Wyatt Sherman, getting two quick goals.

Jacob DeRemer gave the Sailors their first lead of the night off a Nate Hoover assist.  Senior Ryan Susterich added the final goal two minutes later assisted again by Kevin Smith.

The Vikings (9-3; 3-0) jumped out to an 1-0 lead on Ethan Avery’s goal two minutes into the game.

Devin Buit tied the score for Mona Shores 18 minutes later. Hoover set up the goal on the assist.

The momentum quickly shifted in Mona Shores’ favor after tying the score. The Sailors had multiple chances to take the lead heading into the half, including a solid shot that Hoover rang off the crossbar.

The Vikings’ No. 12 Windsor Marecek gets tangled with Mona Shores’ Kevin Quigg. Photo/Jason Goorman

“It was an ugly game in the beginning,” said Sailors JV coach Mike Apostle. Apostle filled in for varsity coach Jeremy Leffring, who was out sick.

“It was a shock for me when I got the call from Jeremy,” Apostle said. “He said it was only his second game missed in 13 years of coaching.”

The Sailors defense was suburb down the stretch, as they held the Vikings to only three good scoring chances in the last 25 minutes of play.

Goalkeeper Tyler Lemense posted the win with seven saves. The Sailors outshot Whitehall 13-8.

Mona Shores JV coach Mike Apostle filled in for an ailing head varsity coach Jeremy Leffering. Photo/Jason Goorman

“The defense was in a lot better shape in the second half,” Apostle said.  “Whitehall is a good team and we know they are strong. They came out strong in the first half and we were flat and it showed.”

Neither team will have long to mull Monday’s outcome, as both teams have conference games Tuesday night.

Mona Shores travels to Reeths Puffer for an OK Black conference match-up, while Whitehall hosts Shelby in West Michigan conference play.

Check out video of Mona Shores’ two second half goals:

And take a look at Whitehall goalie Collins meeting the goal post.