Division 2 No. 1-ranked East Lansing fell to No. 11-ranked Mattawan, 2-0, in the state semifinals at Grand Rapids Christian High School Wednesday night.
GRAND RAPIDS – After a one-year hiatus from the state championship game, the East Lansing boys soccer team had been on a mission to get back to the sport’s final weekend since its season ended in the regional final a year ago.
The Division 2 No. 1-ranked Trojans were knocking on the door Wednesday night, as the only thing standing between them and the opportunity to capture their third state title in four season was Mattawan, a program which, too, had unfinished business after losing in the state semifinals last season.
East Lansing will have to wait at least one more year.
The Trojans fell to the No. 11-ranked Wildcats, 2-0, in the state semifinals at Grand Rapids Christian High School.
“It definitely stings,” senior midfielder Joe Draheim said. “Knowing that we were so close but didn’t get the job done today … I’m just really proud of our team and what we were able to accomplish this season.”
The two goals East Lansing conceded Wednesday night was the first time the program had given up more than one goal in a match all postseason. The Trojans only gave up four goals total during their quest to get back to the state title game.
After the first 33 minutes of play favored East Lansing, it was Mattawan’s Evan Marquess who scored the game’s opening goal. His shot from near the outskirts of the 18-yard box just beat the outstretched arms of Trojan goalkeeper Elijah Sheridan.
Mattawan was able to tack onto its lead halfway through the second half when senior forward Jarrett Hageman capitalized off his team’s set piece after a foul on East Lansing.
“I knew we had the potential and the ability to come back from a deficit, so I had absolute faith in them,” said Sheridan, a junior, who started the last two games in net for the Trojans. “I knew the game was never over until the final whistle blew.
“You can’t lower your effort just because they got a second goal. There was plenty of time left.”
East Lansing was creeping close to goal late in the contest, most notably when a Trojan goal was negated after a whistle for a hand-ball with 18:32 remaining. East Lansing nearly scored again after a run and pass from defender Logan Reynolds found the foot of Sabri Fair in the box, but the senior’s shot was just wide of the goal.
Outside of the 18-yard box, the Trojans were able to work the ball around and put themselves in position for a score. However, the Wildcats’ back line was stout in denying any opportunities close to goal.
“I think we just overthought it and tried to do too much by ourselves,” senior midfielder Brady Carlson said. “They really just clogged the middle, and we couldn’t get any shots off.”
Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.
Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.