By Justin Haggerty
LocalSportsJournal.com

FRUITPORT – The Lakes 8 Activities Conference soccer race is shaping up to be a dogfight, and Spring Lake appears ready to battle for the title.

LSJ Logo incertThe Lakers remained unbeaten in conference play with an impressive 3-2 victory over rival Fruitport Monday on the Trojans’ home field.

They are now 6-1-1 overall and 4-0 in the Lakes 8. They are tied with unbeaten Ludington for the conference lead.

Spring Lake's Saebryn Peel (left) controls the ball as Fruitport's Emily Pieczynski pressures from behind. Photo/Jason Goorman

Spring Lake’s Saebryn Peel (left) controls the ball as Fruitport’s Emily Pieczynski pressures from behind. Photo/Jason Goorman

Spring Lake secured the victory with three first half goals, including two from Saebryn Peel.

Andie Kriger added a goal and assist while goalkeeper Emma Gordon got the win.

“We want to get out to a fast start,” said Spring Lake Coach Jeremy Thelen. “We’ve got some really talented players up top – Nora (Adkins), Saebryn (Peel), Kenzie Price – so we’re looking to send them with some speed to really start the game. That’s really a big deal to us.”

Fruitport Coach Jeannie McClain said she was proud of her team, despite the loss in the important conference game. The Trojans are now 6-2-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.

“We both came out hard, came out strong,” McClain said. “They scored their goals, but we did not let down. That’s the way it is, Fruitport and Spring Lake is always a battle, you don’t know who’s going to come out on top. We have them again and we’ll be ready.”

Andie Kriger kicks the ball for Spring Lake as Fruitport's No. 15 Marisa Carmean trails. Photo/Jason Goorman

Andie Kriger kicks the ball for Spring Lake as Fruitport’s No. 15 Marisa Carmean trails. Photo/Jason Goorman

Spring Lake drew first blood less than 15 minutes into the game when Peel took a pass from Kriger and scored on a header.

Ten minutes later, Kriger scored from the left wing corner to make it 2-0 Spring Lake.

Marissa Hassevoort scored her seventh goal of the year to get Fruitport on the board with 6:35 left in the first half, but Peel scored just 70 seconds later to put Spring Lake back up by two goals, 3-1 at halftime.

Fruitport’s Emily Pieczynski scored her first goal of the season midway through to second half, but the Trojans could get no closer.