MICHIGAN GIRLS SOCCER: Lightning in a bottle – re-energized Grand Rapids Christian keeps upset train going with regional title
- Dan Stickradt
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Christian has found itself rejuvenated in the Division 2 postseason. Kind of like lightning in a bottle.
The Eagles are playing with some new energy, a new sense of urgency.
Some new life. A rebirth.
Whatever you call it – it’s working.
That is understandable. The unranked Eagles had some struggles with a sophomore heavy team that finished 2-7 in one-goal games during the regular season and played in the ever-tough seven-school Ottawa Kent Conference-White Division this season – fifth place finish to be exact.
Five of the seven teams in that league were ranked at times this season or ranked the entire season – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern, Grand Rapids Catholic Central and East Grand Rapids.
The Eagles finished the regular season 6-9-2 overall and 5-5-2 in the division. Grand Rapids Christian was 3-9-2 against teams that spent time in the Top 15 rankings or listed as honorable mention. The Eagles held a narrow 34-24 scoring edge in the regular season, where they finished the year on a 0-3-1 streak – all against state-ranked teams
It’s safe to say that the Eagles went through some challenges overall, played some tough competition – and faced some adversity and bad luck along the way.
Oh, how things have changed in the Division 2 state tournament.
The Eagles captured their fifth straight postseason win Thursday at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, topping defending state champion Spring Lake 1-0 for the Division 2 regional championship.
Sophomore forward Charley Hassenrik scored on the game’s first shot attempt – only 19 seconds into the match – and Grand Rapids Christian’s defense fought tooth-and-nail to make the goal stand up in the end for the school’s regional title since 2014 – and in a year where the Final Four run was unexpected.
Freshman goalkeeper Rogue Tholen, with help from her battle-tested and no longer frustrated back line, earned the clean sheet. Tholen recorded 10 saves for her team’s eighth shutout of the season – and fourth in five games in the tournament.
Grand Rapids Christian, now 11-9-2, has outscored the opposition 8-1 in the state tournament. That includes wins over ranked foes Forest Hills Eastern (2-0), OKC-White Division champion Forest Hills Northern (1-0) and Forest Hills Central (1-0) in the district, along with the regional finals victory over Spring Lake (12-7-2).
The school's boys soccer team has made three Final Four runs in the last four school years, including state titles in 2021 and 2023 with a state semifinals appearance in 2024.
Grand Rapids Christian’s reward? The Eagles will battle top-ranked and unbeaten Hudsonville Unity Christian (20-0-2) Tuesday in the state semifinals at Holland Christian.
Unity Christian, now up in Division 2 after winning the last two Division 3 state titles, playing in the last three D-3 state title games and have captured 12 state titles overall, own a 101-4 scoring edge this season with 18 shutouts.
Grand Rapids Christian has struck up a five-game win streak in the tournament to up its season totals to where the Eagles have outscored their 22 opponents 42-25.
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