GRAND HAVEN TWP. — Even as the state starts to slowly open up, it would be very tough to justify hosting a large outdoor event like a semi-professional soccer match.
Ben Buursma had always kept an eye on the coaching job at Western Michigan Christian.
While the spring sports season for Michigan’s high-school athletes was taken away by the coronavirus pandemic, there is still plenty of hope that the fall will be able to go on.
GRAND HAVEN TWP. — A downward trend in COVID-19 cases has Michigan teams in the United Premier Soccer League more hopeful of play this season.
Even as the United Premier Soccer League tries to get their spring and summer season off the ground, it’s looking more and more like one team may not be involved.
The next local athlete we’re featuring in our ‘Get To Know’ series is Spring Lake senior Clayton Glasgow. A standout on the Lakers’ soccer team this fall, Clayton also planned to run track in the spring before the sports season was canceled.
Local youth sports leagues continue to monitor the coronavirus as the spring progresses.
Our next featured students in our ‘Get To Know’ series are Grand Haven seniors Ellary Bylsma and Jenny Dear. The pair were involved on the attacking end for the Buccaneers’ soccer team last year.
Next up in the ‘Get To Know’ series is Grand Haven senior Jessica Boyer. The swimmer and soccer player would have been one of five seniors on the Bucs’ girls soccer roster.
Veteran Western Michigan Christian boys and girls soccer coach David Hulings is stepping down at the end of this spring’s girls season.
GRAND HAVEN — Kody Harrell is learning every day on his new job.
Western Michigan Christian cross country runner Abbi VanderKooi was in San Diego participating in the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships. VanderKooi placed third running a personal record of 16:55.2.
NOVI — Western Michigan Christian’s Brevin Byrne and Jamison Goorman could only joke around before the biggest penalty shootout of their careers.
KENTWOOD — Western Michigan Christian were dominant in their 2-0 state semifinal victory over Dansville on Wednesday, and with better luck they might have won by four or five goals instead. Instead, there was rain and cold weather throughout – the Warriors didn't seem to mind.
MUSKEGON – The last four years weren’t kind to Western Michigan Christian when it came to shootouts. That changed Thursday night, as four confident penalties were helped by two big saves from Jamison Goorman as the Warriors advanced to the Division 4 state semifinals. WMC is slated to play e…
ROCKFORD — An early barrage of goals dug Grand Haven into a hole they couldn't get out of in Wednesday’s regional semifinal loss. The Bucs fell to Okemos 7-4.
GRAND HAVEN – The Grand Haven boys soccer team has a colossal matchup Wednesday when they take on No. 1-ranked Okemos in the first round of regionals.
MUSKEGON – Western Michigan Christian made a statement in their regional semifinal on Tuesday night. In a region that features four of Division 4’s top six teams, the Warriors protected home field with a 3-0 win over North Muskegon.
ALLENDALE – Every long playoff run needs a bit of luck. Spring Lake found out the hard way that theirs ran out on Saturday morning.
GRAND HAVEN – For a large Grand Haven senior class, there was only one way to go out on Friday night. With Holland West Ottawa in town, the Bucs used an effective ground game to blow by the Panthers, winning 49-14.
SPRING LAKE – There’s been a tradition around the Spring Lake soccer program this time of year.
HUDSONVILLE – Grand Haven’s Gavin Jonker had a huge night in the team’s win over Grand Rapids Union in the district finals Thursday night.
The scores and results from Thursday's action in area prep sports:
SPRING LAKE – In weather that had most players in winter hats and long sleeves, it was Spring Lake who started hot and stayed warm enough to down local rivals Fruitport in Wednesday night’s district semifinal.
HUDSONVILLE - Anything you can do, I can do better was the mantra for Tuesday night’s district semifinal match up between Grand Haven and Rockford.
ALLENDALE - Spring Lake took on Allendale in the district quarterfinals and won their match 3-0. This win was the third time the Lakers defeated the Falcons this season and the win moves Spring Lake onto the district semifinals.
GRAND HAVEN – To soccer coaches, some of the most important moments of a match come in the five minutes before and after halftime. Grand Haven used that time to great effect on Thursday, scoring twice right before halftime on their way to a 3-1 win over Grandville.
With Friday football games across the area, there were only a handful of other scores:
FRUITPORT – Fruitport’s varsity soccer team hosted the Muskegon Big Reds at home on Wednesday night. Fruitport jumped on their opponent early and once they did they never looked back, winning 14-0 in the first half.
FRUITPORT – The Trojans hosted the Muskegon Big Reds at home Wednesday night. Fruitport jumped on their opponent early and once they did they never looked back winning 14-0 in the first half.
SPRING LAKE – To say Grand Rapids Catholic Central had been a thorn in Spring Lake's side over the last two years would be putting it mildly.
GRAND HAVEN – Soccer can be a weird game sometimes.
SPRING LAKE – The Lakers only needed one half to win their match versus Comstock Park on Tuesday night. Spring Lake scored just three minutes into the game and never looked back en route to a 9-0 victory.
Just a handful of results from Monday's action:
GRAND HAVEN – Offense was the name of the game in Tuesday night’s O-K Red soccer matchup between Grand Haven and Hudsonville, with the Eagles claiming a 5-3 win.
SPRING LAKE – Spring Lake responded strongly to a surprising early deficit on Tuesday night, making the most of their second-half chances to win 7-1 against Coopersville.
With most of the area’s prep teams earning a deserved day off on Monday, it’s time to take a look at which games could carry the most intrigue this week. A pair of soccer teams that are off to hot starts meet up as well as the start of Grand Haven’s series of Bucs Pride games highlight this …
Three goals in the game’s first 12 minutes paced Spring Lake boys soccer to a convincing 4-1 win over Grand Rapids West Catholic on Tuesday night.
FRUITPORT – Amid overcast skies, it was West Michigan Christian who were bright and positive during their 3-1 win over Fruitport on Monday night.
SPRING LAKE – After falling 3-1 to defending state champion Unity Christian last Friday, Spring Lake boys soccer was back to winning ways on Tuesday night, beating Sparta 8-0.
GRAND HAVEN – Four goals from Jaden King were the highlight for Grand Haven boys soccer, as they defeated Reeths-Puffer 7-1 on Wednesday night. Three goals in a six-minute stretch around halftime put the game beyond reach for Nick Tejchma’s team.
SPRING LAKE – After falling 3-1 to defending state champion Unity Christian last Friday, Spring Lake boys soccer was back to winning ways on Tuesday night, beating Sparta 8-0.
The Grand Haven Tribune is counting down our top five male and female athletes, as well as teams, for the 2018-19 season. Our No. 2 team of the year is the Spring Lake girls soccer team thanks to a run to the regional finals and undefeated blitzing of the O-K Blue Conference.
LYON, France (AP) — The United States women's soccer team was as good as American players promised — maybe even better.
LYON, France (AP) — With Alex Morgan's cheeky tea-sipping celebration and a postgame mobbing of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, the United States has moved a step closer to successfully defending its latest Women's World Cup title.
Commented