LocalSportsJournal.com
When a team keeps itself under control in a must-win game, good things eventually happen.
Western Michigan Christian boys soccer had to maintain its composure in the Division 4 regional semifinals against Harbor Springs at Cadillac High School on Tuesday night.
The Warriors eventually had their opportunities fall in line in their 5-0 shutout win over Harbor Springs.
Luke Maat was credited with the game-winning goal with 27 minutes left in the first half. The senior defender put himself in the right place at the right time for a Warrior corner kick by Cole DeJonge that was deflected to Maat, who was just inside the 18. Maat gave the ball two touches and laced a shot through the goalkeepers’ legs for a 1-0 lead.
WMC swarms Luke Maat after scoring the Warriors’ first goal. Photo/Randy Riksen
The goal was the breakthrough WMC needed in a first half that saw 10 shots on goal, all of which were good opportunities. The Warriors’ offense was clicking against the Rams, but good saves by their goalie kept WMC pressing.
“Only I’m good at that,” joked Maat for getting the game-winning goal that took the lid off for the Warriors. “I megged the keeper, not sure if anyone saw it.”
Tekalegn Vlasma had several good scoring chances early on, including a penalty kick seven minutes into the contest. But Harbor Springs was able to deter the Warriors.
WMC senior forward Tekalegn Vlasma gets free on a breakaway. Photo/Randy Riksen
WMC was able to get several more great scoring opportunities after Maat’s goal, but couldn’t capitalize. The Warriors then found themselves down a man after a red card with five minutes left in the opening 40 minutes.
The defending back-to-back state champs could have let their frustrations get the better of them, but instead buckled down in the second half.
“The first half was a bit more of a dog fight,” said WMC coach Ben Buursma. “They came out with more energy and didn’t give us much space, but we still broke through the lines.”
Vlasma broke the ice to open the second half with the first of his two goals of the night. The speedy senior forward took a through pass from DeJonge for a breakaway tally that gave the Warriors a 2-0 lead.
“Never underestimate T (Vlasma), he’s going to get his,” said Buursma. “He’s a special player and has that knack for finishing and being in the right spot at the right time. And he’s got a motor that most kids can’t keep up with.”
Ten minutes later, Carter Heimiller gave WMC a 3-0 lead off another corner kick, this time by Braedon Hoffman.
Braedon Hoffman (6) takes a shot for WMC. Photo/Randy Riksen
With the Warriors’ offense now clicking, Vlasma tallied another goal, again on a through pass from DeJonge.
“The second half they didn’t put any pressure on us and they were up a man (from the red card),” said Buursma. “They had a really special player, No. 11 (Henry Juneau), who was tough to manage, so we put Tyson Annema on him.”
While Annema, a sophomore, kept Juneau in his shadows on defense, WMC’s backfield and midfield managed long possessions that often strung 10-straight passes together before they started an attack.
That patience rubbed off on all the Warriors on the field, including the underclassmen who got to play late in the game. Sophomore Braeden Olsen capped off WMC’s scoring when he took over another long possession by the Warriors. The forward split the Rams’ defense several different times that started close to midfield before finding his first varsity goal.
“Pulled up from JV to train and play in the post season and get your first varsity goal in a regional semi, that’s pretty special,” said Buursma.
The Warriors’ defense was nearly impenetrable and didn’t let Harbor Springs get its first shot until there were 21 minutes left in the game. Goalie Dan Minasian came through with his first save of the night in a 1-on-1 situation that could have broken the shutout. Minasian came out on the play and slid in low to make the save.
“Their first meaningful shot, Dan was called into action once and he was ready for it,” said Buursma.
WMC outshot the Rams 15-1 in the game as Minasian posted the shutout in goal.
The win advances the Warriors into Thursday’s Division 4 regional final against Leland. WMC’s game against the Comets is a rematch as the Warriors lost 4-2 earlier this season.
