MICHIGAN GIRLS SOCCER: Top-ranked Unity Christian, No. 2 Forest Hills Central post 0-0 draw; EGR-Forest Hills Eastern tie; Bryon Center, Gull Lake also play even
- Dan Stickradt
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Bay City John Glenn, Paw Paw, Bay City Western, Marcellus, Clinton, Romeo all record victories
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Could this be a sneak preview of what could come in the state tournament.
If state powerhouses Hudsonville Unity Christian and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central both can make lengthy state tournament runs in Division 2, they could meet up in the state semifinals come mid-June.
Although that is still two months away, the two talent-laden squads battled to a 0-0 Ottawa Kent Conference crossover draw Friday at Forest Hills Central.
The host Rangers – winners of five state championships over the past 25 years in either Division 1 or Division 2 – picked up their fourth straight shutout and fifth of the season against Unity Christian. Forest Hills Central (6-0-1) has outscored the opposition 26-2 this season, scoring 3.72 goals-per-game while posting a team goals-against-average of 0.29.
Gretta Kriekard made 10 saves and was the beneficiary of Unity Christian hitting four shots off of goal posts in the contest. Only Rockford and Caledonia have scored on the Rangers’ stingy defense this season.
Unity Christian, which won back-to-back state championships and 12 total since the early 2000s, moved up to Division 2 enrollment-wise this season, much like rival Grand Rapids South Christian. The Crusaders (7-0-1) have still played at a high-level this season despite being shutout for the first time.
Unity Christian allowed a goal in a 2-1 season-opening win over Division 4 No. 2-ranked Muskegon Western Michigan Christian but has not conceded a single goal since. Overall, the Crusaders hold a 36-1 scoring edge this season, averaging 4.5 goals-per-game while posting a paltry 0.13 goals-against-average as a team.
Kenidee Crump and Payton Barendsen shared the shutout for Unity Christian, which has posted seven straight clean sheets.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS 0, GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS EASTERN 0: East Grand Rapids is yet to taste defeat in the loaded Ottawa Kent Conference-White Division this season. The defending league champions haven’t won a game either.
East Grand Rapids battle fast-rising Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern Friday to this 0-0 draw in league play.
Eastern is off to one of its best starts since opening its doors back in the 2004-05 school year.
The Hawks moved to 5-1-1 overall with the draw against the high-powered Pioneers. More importantly, Forest Hills Eastern is near the top of the standings of the OKC White Division – one of the state’s toughest leagues.
The Hawks have been impressive with a 26-7 scoring edge and four shutouts so far this season.
Piper Vyareny had 10 saves for East Grand Rapids, which has an 11-5 scoring edge with a trio of clean sheets this season. Brooklyn Vandenberg made 10 saves for Forest Hills Eastern.
BYRON CENTER 1, RICHLAND GULL LAKE 1: Two of the top teams in their respective divisions led by legendary coaches squared off Friday on the soccer pitch and the two came away with this 1-1 non-league tie.
Morgan Malek converted a penalty kick for Byron Center (3-1-3, No. 14 Division 1). Nora Schans made eight saves for the Bulldogs.
Bella Carr made eight saves for Gull Lake and Tessa Cothron scored off an assist from Lyleigh Grant for the Blue Devils (7-1-1, No. 3 Division 2).
Byron Center is coached by John Conlon and Gull Lake is led by Jeff Corstange. Both have enjoyed multiple state championships coaching boys soccer and girls soccer in Michigan.
BAY CITY JOHN GLENN 8, ALMA 1: Bella Snyder and MAya Johnson both finished with two goals and an assist as the Rockets cruised to the Tri Valley Conference win. Ella Wallaker had two goals and two assists, Fiona Meisel had one goal and one assist, Nora Gorley picked up two assists and Carli Johnson had one helper for John Glenn.
PAW PAW 2, ALLEGAN 0: Jersie Yarbrough and Leah Graves scored goals and Paw Paw blanked Allegan in this non-conference game. Zoey Bridges notched the shutout for Paw Paw (4-2-0).
BAY CITY WESTERN 1, FREELAND 0: A second-half goal by sophomore Ella Harrison was the difference as Bay City Western won this non-conference game against neighboring Freeland. Both schools won district titles last season, with Bay City Western (3-4-0) in Division 2 and Freeland in Division 3. Freeland (3-5-0) dropped its fourth consecutive 1-0 game this season.
MARCELLUS 6, COVERT 0: Lillian Lukowski scored a pair of goals as the Wildcats posted this lopsided non-conference win. Layna Cardella added a goal and two assists for Marcellus, which improved to 4-1-1 on the season. Marcellus is the defending Southwest 10 Conference champions under coach Bruce Allen.
CLINTON 4, TECUMSEH 0: Aubrey Lauer scored all four goals Friday as the Redwolves cruised to the non-conference shutout. Kaylee Reiser, Ashlyn Leaman and Lillian Trubiano all had assists and Jacklyn Whiting collected seven saves for the clean sheet. Clinton has outscored the opposition 16-10 this season with Lauer scoring 14 of those goals for the Redwolves (4-1-0).
ROMEO 4, CLARKSTON 1: Four different players scored goals and Romeo cruises to the non-conference win Friday. McKenna Clouston, Clare Carmody, Lexi Meier and Olivia Skomski tallied for the Bulldogs, who moved to 3-2-1 on the season with an 11-6 scoring edge.
QUINCY 3, DELTON KELLOGG-MARTIN UNIFIED 1: Kenzi Maynard netted the go ahead goal late inf the first half and Quincy rallied for the non-conference win. Abby Hinds tied the game for the Orioles and Laura Bostic assisted on the game-winner and scored the third goal in the second half for Quincy (8-2-0).
SCORES ONLY
PLAINWELL 5, KALAMAZOO CENTRAL 2:
SCHOOLCRAFT 7, HOLLAND BLACK RIVER ACADEMY 2:
HASTINGS 4, SOUTH HAVEN 3:
STERLING HEIGHTS STEVENSON 1, ST. CLAIR 0:
SUTTONS BAY-NORTH BAY UNIFIED 3, CHARLEVOIX 1:
HOPKINS 3, THREE RIVERS 0:
WYOMING KELLOGGSVILLE 10, KENTWOOD GRAND RIVER PREP 0:
BEAVERTON 7, HOUGHTON LAKE 0:
BERRIEN SPRINGS 0, CONSTANTINE 0:
COMSTOCK 6, COLOMA 0:
COOPERSVILLE 3, WYOMING LEE 0:
WILLIAMSTON 8, DANSVILLE 0:
VICKSBURG 8, DOWAGIAC 0:
HASLETT 1, EAST LANSING 1:
IDA 2, MONROE JEFFERSON-ERIE MASON UNIFIED 1:
NILES BRANDYWINE 0, NEW BUFFALO 0:
REPORTING SCORES
The National Soccer Network will compile daily roundups by state for high school soccer. Email results and all pertinent information to news@nationalsoccernetwork.com and dsickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com for publication consideration.
COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
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