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MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
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FRUITPORT, Mich. – Sometimes there’s a silver lining in a loss.
Fruitport knows that all too well.
A year ago, the Trojans outshot fellow Division 2 state-ranked Grand Rapids Christian 8-2 in a regional finals match in terms of shots directly on goal. They fought tooth-and-nail only to succumb to the talented Eagles 1-0.
Grand Rapids Christian went on to tear through a great tournament run which ended with the Eagles’ second D-2 state championship in a three-year run. Fruitport went home with an 18-3-3 record, but with great expectations for the 2024 campaign.
“Sometimes, that’s soccer,” sighed Fruitport coach Dan Hazekamp earlier this season. “It doesn’t mean much if you don’t score. We had them on the ropes with that 8-2 shots (advantage) only to come up short. And Grand Rapids Christian was very good last season – there was a lot of size and talent on that roster. Some really good (players). We were right there with them. We just came up short.”
Fruitport outscored the opposition 72-14 last season with a school record 15 shutouts and at one time posted 13 straight clean sheets. That streak ended in that regional finals loss to GRC.
That’s right: One goal conceded in a 14-game stretch at the end of the 2023 campaign. The Trojans had some superb goalkeeping and a great, athletic back line. They finished third in a loaded Ottawa Kent Conference-Blue Division last season but won a district and finished up in the Elite Eight in the Division 2 state tournament behind some record-breaking team performances for Fruitport, which has never captured a state title.
The most wins and shutouts in school history were recorded last season and the Trojans were a worthy opponent all year long. The program graduated seven players and four starters to the small-college ranks. But there was a large solid core back returning this season plus some promising newcomers that have aided this year’s accension.
What a season so far in 2024, as Fruitport has emerged as one of the top teams in the state both overall and in a loaded Division 2 – where several state title contenders call the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland area home. The Trojans are just southeast of Muskegon but a growing soccer power still seeking their first-ever state finals appearance.
Neighboring schools Muskegon Michigan Christian, Spring Lake and Grand Haven have played in the state finals in the past, while Western Michigan Christian is one of the most storied small-school programs in the state. Grand Rapids Christian, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Holland, Holland Christian, Hudsonville Unity Christian, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, East Kentwood, Rockford, Grand Rapids South Christian and a host of others in that area have made at least one appearance if not several in the state finals or Final Four.
But Fruitport? The chapters are still being written as of late.
“One of our goals was to win our new league, and we’ve been able to do that,” said Hazekamp. “We won the regular season and got to the finals (of the OKC) Silver. As for the (state) tournament, everything has to go right for anyone to make a run. We were fortunate enough to advance to the regional finals. But also understand that there are literally (dozens) of good teams out there that could advance. We hope to (make a run) but understand if you are off anyone can beat you on any given night.”
The Trojans enter the OKC-Silver Tournament finals against Division 4 state-ranked Grandville Calvin Christian already owning the overall league championship. Fruitport will finish with either 15 or 16 points and the outright champion of the eight-school division.
“We have that all wrapped up because we were first in the regular portion (of the schedule) and Calvin Christian was third,” offered Hazekamp.
This season, Fruitport was moved over to the OKC-Silver Division – seven schools left the six-division OKC altogether and formed the River Cities Conference while 21 other schools within the state’s largest league shifted divisions for all sports this season (football has a different alignment). The Trojans landed in the OKC-Silver Division but have still shined bright with a talented, experienced and deep team with expectations.
High expectations.
High expectations, not only as a top 15 program should have, but also a expectations while having a target on the Trojans’ collective back as a team that enters the postseason with a No. 1-ranking tag. Fruitport has spent the entire season well inside the MIHSSCA Division 2 Top 15 rankings, and eventually climbed into the No. 1 spot in the rankings in late September. The Trojans finished 7-0-0 in the OKC-Silver regular season standings and with the top seed host third-seeded Grandville Calvin Christian Monday at 7 p.m.
The Trojans have talent, size, speed, depth and they have all checked the egos at the door, according to Hazekamp. “That’s the one thing about this team. They play together as a team and if someone is having an off night, the rest will pick them up. They cover for each other and they want to win (as a team).
“We are also very athletic. Not only do we have a bunch of guys that play for various club, but we have several guys who are multi-sport Athletes. Guys that play two or three different sports,” noted Hazekamp. “They guys are just terrific athletes. Some of those guys, soccer is their second sport or in case for a couple of them soccer might be their third sport."
The sum of the parts may be better than the individual talent in some cases. But Fruitport does have some good individual talent as well and together could potentially enter the postseason unbeaten if they can defeat Grandville Calvin Christian (No. 7 Division 4) for the second time this season in the OKC-Silver finale.
The Trojans hold a 66-8 scoring edge this season with 11 shutouts and have not been shut out this season. Fruitport did tie Spring Lake (1-1) in an OKC crossover match on Sept. 28 on the road for the only blemish on the record – Spring Lake and Fruitport were both in the OKC-Blue Division the last several years but both switched divisions this summer with Spring Lake heading to the OKC-Black Division this school year.
Defensively, the Trojans have posted a team goals-against-average of 0.47 heading into the final week of the regular season before they have earned a bye in their Division 2 district. Seniors Sam Kruger, Braxton Ward and Isaiah Packard are all returning starters along the stout back line that has 26 shutouts in two seasons and have pinched in since four-year starter Brady Brown graduate off of last year’s team. Junior Nathaniel Cribley (6-foot-2) moved into a starting role this season and have joined a sterling defensive unit. They have done the dirty work collectively not only keeping the ball out of the back of the net, but limiting chances by the opposition in most games to single digits in terms of shots on frame.
Ward is also a college baseball prospect, while Kruger earned All-League Honorable Mention last season in soccer. Packard is tough as nails and Cribley uses his size to his advantage.
Senior Logan Werschem (All-League First Team, All-State Third Team) has developed into one of the state’s top goalkeepers and has picked up interest over the past year from some NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools. Werschem has logged over 90 percent of the minutes in goal the last two years after Justin Laus graduated in June of 2023 and is playing at Muskegon Community College.
Offensively, junior Jorge Yurgos-Black (M/F) and senior Isaac Vandermolen (M/F) have led the charge. Yurgos-Black was All-State Honorable Mention last season and is the straw that stirs the drink, but the 5-foot-3 attacking-style player creates so many opportunities for himself and teammates that he is quite lethal despite his small stature. Vandermolen is the exact opposite, standing 6-foot-5 and weighting over 200 pounds and is a multi-dimensional-type player in the attack. He is great in the air, can finish from close-range or from distance and is hard to knock off the ball with his size and strength.
Vandermolen, also a Division 2 All-State Honorable Mention choice last year, has interest from some D-II, D-III and NAIA schools as well and even was offered from D-II Manchester University earlier this year. He has 13 goals and nine assists despite missing three games in mid-September due to a minor injury. Yurgos-Back, who has 15 goals and seven assists, has interest from Davenport University and a host of others as well.
It doesn’t stop there.
Junior Ryder Merkins, who is also a quality track athlete, has played well and carries some high club pedigree playing in the Elite 64 ranks with Midwest United. Junior Carter Gregor (M/F) is a transfer from Muskegon Orchard View and has filled in nicely in the attack with six goals in the Trojans’ last four games. He has scored some highlight-reel goals this season and is another option in a high-powered offensive juggernaut.
Junior Davis Nelson (M) has eight goals and three assists and junior Jayden Booker (M) have also performed well, as well as junior Satchell Norwood (M/F) and senior Grade Anspach (M). Off the bench, sophomores Jyles Smith (F) and Hudson Hazekamp (M) have provided some depth and have also provided even more punch on the offensive end for a team who subs in a lot of players, even in blowouts, and is not trying to put up ridiculous numbers with individuals scoring, 30-, 40-plus goals.
Fruitport is favored in its district but Hazekamp knows all too well nothing is for certain. If the Trojans can escape some upset bids and win their district, a multitude of state-ranked teams in western or northern Michigan could be a worthy opponent later in the tourney as Fruitport is trying to chase the dream of playing in the final week of the season.
“We have many goals as a team, and I know the guys would love to go even further this year,” said Hazekamp. “But like everyone else, we have to take it one game at a time. Everything has to go right just to win a district or regional, or even make it to the (state) finals. There’s so many good teams out there and so many good players in the state that it’s going to be really tough. We know that regardless of what happens, we’ll give it everything we can to try to get there.”
— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / Michigan Soccer Network / National Soccer Network
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
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