BY DAN STICKRADT
Communications Specialist | Web And Content Editor | Director of News |
Social Media Director | Interns and Freelance Coordinator
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW: @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
(Michigan Soccer Network Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt compiles team capsules for over 460 girls soccer programs statewide. Email pertinent information to stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com. Follow on Twitter @msn_stickradt, @LocalSportsFans, or @MiSoccerNetwork and on numerous social media platforms.)
Competing Teams – Belding, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, Grandville Calvin Christian, Hopkins, Sparta, Wyoming Godwin Heights, Wyoming Kelloggsville
SCHOOL: Belding
HEAD COACH: Paul Hulford
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 3-14-1, 2-11-1 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (seventh, seven points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-3 pre-districts to Kentwood Grand River Prep (2-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Mackenzie Miles, sr. G (All-League; signed with NAIA Bethel College); Hayley Conrad, soph. F (All-League); no other players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No players specified.
KEY NEWCOMERS: No players specified.
REMAINING ROSTER: No list submitted.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Belding returns two All-OKC-Silver players on the bookends of the field, including goalkeeper Mackenzie Miles who will play collegiately. The Black Knights’ problem may be depth, as they don’t have a bevy of high- and medium-level club soccer players up and down the roster like many of the other schools in the six-division Ottawa Kent Conference. Belding had its fair share of struggles last season with its inexperience overall and were blanked 13 times. The team’s 3-1-0 start could be a clue that this team is trying to right the ship and sail in a different direction this season.
SCHOOL: Comstock Park
HEAD COACH: Robert Kramer
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 14-3-2, 10-2-2 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (second, 32 points).
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Wyoming Lee (8-2); def Muskegon Orchard View (2-0); lost in D-3 district finals to Grand Rapids Catholic Central (4-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Sienna Ouendag, sr. F (All-League, All-State Honorable Mention); no other players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No players specified.
KEY NEWCOMERS: No players specified.
REMAINING ROSTER: No list submitted.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: One of the best seasons in program history entered the books last June. Unfortunately for the Panthers, much of that roster departed via graduation.
SCHOOL: Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian
HEAD COACH: Easton Levi, first season.
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD/ FINISH: 9-7-4, 8-2-4 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (third, 28 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-4 district semifinals to Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (1-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Lindsey Schrock, sr. M (All-State Honorable Mention, All-League, 15 goals, 12 assists); Sophie Strob, sr. M/F (All-League, All-District, 11 goals, 11 assists); Nina Helder, sr. D (All-League, All-District); Heayleigh Amey, sr. M (All-District); Lily Uekert, sr. D; Alyssa Lupanoff, jr. M (All-League Honorable Mention); Celeste Lupanoff, jr. D; Vienna Howard, jr. M/F.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Ella Blakeney, soph. F; Kylie Steenland, jr. M; Abby VanderBoon, jr. M.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Kate Fester, fr. G; Olivia Weaver, fr. M; Stella Oviatt, fr. M/F; Jadyn VanWieren, fr. F; Grace Post, fr. D (one of state’s top freshmen).
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Last season saw NorthPointe finish third in the league and post a 66-25 scoring edge over its opponents with nine shutouts. Through April 15 of this year, the Mustangs are 2-2-0 with two shutouts but have been outscored 5-3 in four low-scoring matches. There is a youth movement with the Mustangs, as five freshmen are suiting up with one sophomore against five juniors and five seniors on varsity.
SCHOOL: Grandville Calvin Christian
HEAD COACH: Darren Collins, first season.
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD/ FINISH: 17-1-3, 12-0-2 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (first, 38 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Holland Black River Academy (3-0); def. Saugatuck (3-1, district finals); lost in D-4 regional semifinals to eventual state champion Kalamazoo Christian (4-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Jaidyn Veldhouse, sr. M/F (All-State First Team, All-League, had single-season school record 37 goals and 52 points last season; signed with NCAA Division II Sagianw Valley State); Emersyn Braman, soph. M (All-State Honorable Mention); Maddie Muilenburg, jr. M (All-State Second Team, All-League); Avary Braman, sr. F (All-State Second Team, All-League; signed with NAIA Calvin College); Nadia Becher, sr. D; Emersyn Braman, soph. F/M; Addyson Rhodes, soph. D (All-League Honorable Mention); Helena Becher, soph. D; Aletta Scholten, soph. F.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Adeline Bertotti, soph.; Morgan Haartman, soph.; Ainsley Kruis, soph.; Happiness Masika, soph.; Addyson Meringa, soph.; Jenna Yonker, soph.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Ryenn Berghuis, fr.; Faith Jenkins, fr.; Liza Kauffman, fr.; Jennalyn Marsman, fr.; Lydia Marsman, fr.; Jaidyn Schaub, fr.; Kameryn Snoek, fr.; Kenna Snoek, fr.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Almost everything went right for Calvin Christian last season. Almost. The Squires won the Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division unbeaten at 12-0-2 and also captured a district championship in Division 4. Calvin Christian had a vaunted offensive attack by scoring 107 goals and only allowing 15 on the campaign. The Squires also pitched 14 shutouts. Then the team lost its starting goalkeeper to injury before its regional semifinal contest against state powerhouse Kalamazoo Christian, which ended up handing Calvin Christin its first and only loss of the season and the Comets went on to capture the D-4 state crown. First-year coach Darren Collins has been rotating several players at the goalkeeper position in the early growing to try to develop a starter and backup in case they are to run into a similar situation. Calvin Christian began 1-2-0 but against much larger schools and the Squires figure to handle most opponents remaining on their schedule as long as they can plug a couple of holes. There are eight returning starters back and a quality freshmen group to keep this team in the top 15 of the D-4 rankings.
SCHOOL: Hopkins
HEAD COACH: John Mieras
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD/ FINISH: 6-11-2, 6-6-3 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (fifth, 20 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-3 pre-districts to Allegan (6-1).
RETURNING STARTERS: Kate Cleypool, sr. G/F (All-League); Ellie Sebright, sr. M (All-League); no other players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Rianna Hugmeyer, jr. M; Flannery Johnston, sr. D/G; Riley Martinez, jr. F/M; Emma Perez De Saralegui, sr.; Katie Taylor, sr. D/M; Abigail Zalis, sr. M/D; Ali Langlois, soph. M/F; Allison Breining, soph. M/F; Allison Poll, soph. D; Briget Stark, soph. M; Lacy Huist, soph. F; Madi Langlois, soph. M/F; Olivia Brenner, soph. M.
KEY NEWCOMERS: No players specified.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: With a really young team last season, the Vikings showed some signs of life even though they were only fifth in the Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division and won six games. Hopkins did outscore its opposition 56-52 with seven shutouts. This year the Vikings are off to a great start at 3-1-1 thorough April 15 and have a 18-6 scoring edge with two shutouts. Could Hopkins be one of the most improved sides in western Michigan? With two All-League players and 15 total players back, than this could be a team on the rise.
SCHOOL: Sparta
HEAD COACH: Nathan Barr
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD/ FINISH: 8-7-4, 7-3-4 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (fourth, 25 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-2 pore-districts to Grand Rapids Northview (1-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: Cadence Wilson, sr. (All-League) Alanna Murphy, sr. (All-League); Ezra Kutzli, sr. D (All-League); Milah Lamancusa, sr. G; no other players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Avery Kober, sr.; Bekah Ginac, sr.; Abriel Reister, sr.; Yareli Balderas, sr.; no other players specified.
KEY NEWCOMERS: No players specified.
REMAINING ROSTER: No list submitted.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Sparta has been respectable the last few years, finishing above five-hundred last season behind a 49-29 scoring edge and seven shutouts. There are three All-League performers back from a team that finished fourth in the OKC-Silver Division, but the Spartans have struggled out of the gate. Through April 15, Sparta is 0-4-0 and outscored 13-0. There is plenty of time to right the ship, but the Spartans are trying to find someone who can score goals after being shut out four times already this season.
SCHOOL: Wyoming Godwin Heights
HEAD COACH: Federico Villafuerte
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD/ FINISH: 2-12-2, 2-10-2 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (sixth, eight points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-2 pre-districts to Grand Rapids Christian (8-0)
RETURNING STARTERS: No players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No players specified.
KEY NEWCOMERS: No players specified.
ROSTER: No list submitted.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: The Wolverines have struggled in recent years. Although Godwin Heights finished sixth out of eight schools in the Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division, the Wolverines’ major rebuilding campaign in 2023 saw them shut out 14 times and outscored 88-6. Any type of improvements this season is welcome. Godwin Heights began the season 0-5-0. The school is in a similar situation with Wyoming, Wyoming Kelloggsville, Muskegon, Greenville, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills and a few others on the west side of the state where the Wolverines do not gain very many high- or medium-level club players when it comes to girls soccer and it shows up in the box scores.
SCHOOL: Wyoming Kelloggsville
HEAD COACH: Randy Tate
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD/ FINISH: 1-15-2, 0-13-1 Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division (eighth, one point).
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-3 pre-districts to Grand Rapids West Michigan Aviation Academy (8-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: No players specified.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No players specified.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Vanessa Alcaraz, fr.; Jennifer Domingo-Pablo, fr.; Gabriela Galaviz, fr.; Myana Santiago-Dejesus, fr.; Michelle Valdez-Diaz, fr.
ROSTER: Makayla Wieck, jr.; Alondra Preciado, soph.; Layla Parchham, sr.; Ma Ya, sr.; Alijah Bradford, sr.; Jyilena Huntington, jr.; Cristina Roadas-Alvarez, sr.; Arline Cortez-Parada, jr.; Kira Sherrill, soph.; Jessie Marihugh, sr.; Liliana Diaz-Rodriguez, soph.; Juanita Galaviz, jr.; Yar Deng, soph.; Sayuri Zavala, jr.; Kimberly Zamudio-Arrellano, jr.; Arianna Lara, soh.; Masilenny Rosso-Garcia, jr.; Natalie Bolado-Madrigal, jr.; Arlene Diaz, soph.; Dalilah Henderson, soph.; Jackie Hernandez, soph. Jackie Hernandez, soph.; Enadina Mencho-Vail, soph.; Samantha Rangel,-Monroy, soph.; Samaria Rodriguez-Pumay, soph.; Dayanara Silva-Jimenez, soph.; Kim Nguyen, soph.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: The Rockets have struggled in recent years and last year was no exception. The Rockets finished last in the Ottawa Kent Conference-Silver Division during a major rebuilding campaign in 2023. Kelloggsville was blanked 12 times and outscored 102-15. Any type of improvements this season is welcome. Godwin Heights began the season 1-3-0, already matching last year’s win total during April. When it comes to girls soccer, Kelloggsville is in a similar situation with Wyoming, Wyoming Godwin Heights, Muskegon, Greenville, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills and a few others on the west side of the state where the Rockets simply do not gain very many high-level or medium-level club players and it shows up in the box scores. Last year’s numbers cement that.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
Comments