By Seth Vanderwest
LocalSportsJournal.com

CEDAR SPRINGS — The Spring Lake girls soccer team’s 2023 season ended on Thursday in a top-five showdown against East Grand Rapids.

The Lakers have been ranked No. 1 Division 2 several weeks, while the Pioneers came in at No. 4. It was the first meeting of the teams since 2021, when Spring Lake beat East Grand Rapids enroute to a state finals appearance. 

This time around was a different story as East Grand Rapids defeated Spring Lake, 2-0.

The Lakers came out aggressively and were able to find a couple looks at the net early on, but they did not connect. As the teams settled in, East Grand Rapids began to take control of the game, maintaining possession and forcing Spring Lake to drop their attackers further and further. With 25 minutes left in the first half, East Grand Rapids’ Gracie Lynn fired a corner kick that found the back of the net, making it 1-0 Pioneers. 

Sixteen minutes later, Laker goalkeeper Jessica Stewart came out to stop a breakaway. Stewart blocked the attacker, but the ball bounced away toward the left goal post, where East Grand Rapids’ Henny Maher scored into an empty net.

“They’re a good team,” said Laker coach Becky May. “The team that plays better usually wins, and they had a great game.” 

May said that the Pioneers’ ability to possess made things difficult for the Laker offense. 

“They possess so well up front that by the time we get the ball up we have to chase it down, so we were tired by the time we got it,” she said.

May also commended East Grand Rapids’ ability to stifle Laker wing Ella Andree.

“When [Ella] gets past the back line, that opens things up for her and for everyone else,” May said. “But they did a really good job of keeping her in front of them.”

Spring Lake made adjustments at halftime and continued to fight through the second half, largely stifling the Pioneer’s offense in the final 40 minutes.

Midway through the second half, Laker Clara Saunders collided with an opponent and suffered a bloody blow to the head. Despite the injury, Saunders missed just 15 minutes of game time before checking back in.

“To come back out in the second half and battle down 2-0, that just shows their character and their ability to fight,” said May. “They didn’t give up to the end. I can’t ask anything more of them than that. Clara’s a good example of that. Went up for a ball, even though we’re in a situation where winning wasn’t looking too likely. She did not back down in the least bit.”

Spring Lake ended the season with a 17-3-2 overall record and a district championship. 

“We’ll be back next year,” said May. “We are very junior-heavy, we are very motivated, and they’re a great group of kids.”

Photos by LSJ photographer Jake Szetela