By GREG CHRAPEK
Advance News

COOPERSVILLE - The way the Forest Hills Eastern soccer team kept cutting it close against Coopersville in Wednesday's O-K Rainbow soccer match, one would think the Hawks were old pros at overtime soccer.

Actually, the Hawks are anything but overtime veterans. In fact, Wednesday's match was the first time ever that the young Eastern soccer team had played overtime. Experience, however, can be overrated and the Hawks proved that was the case as they defeated Coopersville 2-1 in dramatic fashion.

Defense was the name of the game for the first 48 minutes of the match. The two teams played a scoreless first half with scoring opportunities being few and far between. The beginning of the second half brought more strong defensive play. With 32:13 remaining in the second half, Coopersville broke the scoreless drought. That was when Jesse Depender scored a goal with an assist from Ashley Platt off an indirect kick.

With a one-goal lead in the defensive struggle, the host Broncos tightened up their defense even more.

With 25 minutes remaining in the contest, Eastern came close to tying the match. With the ball deep in Bronco territory, Bronco goalkeeper Stephanie VanDoorn tipped an Eastern shot on goal that then deflected off the cross bar. Eastern then fired a rebound on goal that just went over the top of the net.

Dodging a pair of bullets, the Broncos redoubled their defensive efforts. Coopersville's defense and midfield kept the Hawks from getting many high-quality scoring chances as the clock wound down.

With less then two minutes remaining and the sun setting, the outlook was looking bleak for Eastern. That was, until freshman Caitlin McCarthy stepped up. With under a minute to play, McCarthy gained control of the ball about 20 yards from the net. Firing at an angle, McCarthy blistered a shot that snuck in just under the far-upper corner of the post tying the game at 1-1 with 59 seconds remaining.

"Caitlin just stuck it real well," said Eastern coach Paul Rosenbrook. "Caitlin is just a freshman but she is one of our leading scorers. She fights real hard for the ball and is not intimidated like a typical freshman. That was just a great shot."

The shot took the air out of the Broncos, who were just seconds away from securing the win. With momentum on their side, Eastern went into attack mode as the overtime session began.

The Hawks carried the play for much of overtime but the Bronco defense again proved to be a tough nut to crack. Again, the match appeared to be headed to a tie as time wound down in the first overtime session. With less then 30 seconds remaining in the match, Eastern made one final offensive push. Again, McCarthy was in the middle of things. This time, McCarthy worked her way into position to take a shot, and with 13 seconds remaining in the first overtime she fired home the game winner.

"This was the first time we went overtime in our program's history," said Rosenbrook. "We had no idea what to expect. We just came out and attacked hard. I felt like the late goal in regulation gave us momentum for overtime."

With the win, the Hawks improved to 2-1 in the conference and 5-1-2 overall.

"This is a big win," said Rosenbrook. "Coopersville is a team that always comes out and fights hard every game. They really fought hard tonight and we were happy to get the win."

Bronco coach Pat Harig was also happy with the effort put out by his team.

"It's hard when you give up a goal in the last 60 seconds of regulation," said Harig, "but I told the girls not to hang their heads. They did a great job. They stood toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league."

With the loss, the Broncos fell to 0-2 in the league and 4-3-1 overall.

"We will build on this," said Harig. "This was Stephanie's first varsity start and I though she played outstanding in goal. Our defense did a great job except for two plays. They (Eastern) are a good team and that was a great shot to tie it."

Both teams returned from spring break and were successful in controling play and bringing their records to 3-0.

Varsity
      The team came out aggressive and played inspired, controlled soccer.  The result was a solid performance and a 8-1 win against GR Central.  The Ladies scored 6 times in the 1st half, with the starters sitting out 15 minutes.  The 2nd half saw the reserves play 20 minutes of solid soccer to start, then the starters returned to finish the game. 
     Lexie tied the school record with 4 goals, Theresa scored 2 goals (including her 2nd header of the season), Rochelle added a goal, as did Sarah B.  Hannah tied the school record with 3 assists, Lexie had 2 assists, Rochelle and Theresa also had an assist.
     Amanda was strong in goal, only giving up a PK goal.  Sara A. played a strong keeper as backup.
     Everyone contributed to this win, which moves their record to 3-0, and the team benefited by getting some work in after the long spring break.
     The next game is Thursday vs. GR Creston.

JV
     The JV ran to a 8-0 win which moves their record to 3-0.  This team also has yet to give up a goal in this young season.  They were in control for most of the game, which resulted in numerous shots on goals. 
     Goals were scored by Erin, Audra, Stephanie, Sarah, Amanda, Natalia, and Amber had 2 goals.  Assists were not tracked, but there were many.  Sami & Mary combined for the shut-out.
     Congratulations to all the girls for their hard work and effort.  It shows on the field.
      

Both teams saw their winning streaks come to an end, but the work ethic and refusal to give up was very noticeable.

Varsity - Grandville scored first on a cross that was directed into the goal by an unmarked player, then it was Coops getting on the board with a nice play by Sarah B, who knocked in a rebound past the Grandville keeper.  Grandville scored again late in the half for the 2-1 halftime lead.
     Trailing 2-1, Coops came out and played its weakest half of the season.  Missed marks and misplays on defense created many opportunities for Grandville, and they capitalized, 5 times.
     To their credit, the ladies played hard until the end and represented themselves in a sportsmanlike fashion.  Amanda did a good job in goal; most of Grandvilles goals came from close in and she couldn't save them.
     Chalk it up to learning experiences, and the team will be ready to work on Monday in preperation for Wednesdays game at Home vs. GR Union.

JV - Grandville scored first in this game, and Jacquie scored for the Ladies to tie the game at 1-1, but Grandville added 2 more goals for the 3-1 halftime lead.
     The Ladies did a good job of controlling the ball, and played a strong 2nd half, not allowing any more goals; Grandville also couldn't score and the halftime score was the final score.  Mary did a good job in goal, making numerous saves.
     The Ladies play again on Wednesday at Home vs. GR Union.
   

Varsity-  Coops traveled to Godwin and scored the game winner 4 minutes into the 2nd overtime to move their record to 2-0 in league play, and 7-2 overall on a very windy day.
     The Ladies scored first in the 1st half; Caitlin fed a nice pass to Theresa who stuck the ball past Godwins keeper for the 1-0 halftime lead.
    Godwin scored the game tying goal with the wind at their back and only 15 minutes left in the game.  Regulation ended with the score tied, 1-1.
     Godwin won the toss for overtime and took the wind, but got no shots off in the 1st overtime, while Coops controlled play and managed a few shots but couldn't score. 
     Coops had the wind in the 2nd overtime and made a couple nice runs at the goal, the last of which resulted in a corner kick.  With 11 minutes left in the 2nd overtime, Sarah B took the corner kick and placed it in front of the goal;  Lexie kicked the ball which then deflected off a Godwin player and into the goal for the win.
     Coops plays at home on Saturday vs. Kenowa Hills, then travels to Calvin on Monday to continue league play.

     Some team members decided to have some fun, and the results were funny, except who would dare to chalk the coach's house???  Other team members were also targeted; no injuries were reported!

Varsity Bracket - 

West Catholic 3, Kenowa Hills 0 

Coopersville 6, Ottawa Hills 0     

3rd Place Game

Kenowa Hills 5, Ottawa Hills 1  

Championship Game  

West Catholic 3,  Coopersville 0

JV Tournament-

Kenowa Hills 2, West Catholic 0

Coopersville 3, West Catholic 0

Championship Game

Kenowa Hills 1, Coopersville 0                                        

     Congrats to the team for earning All-State All-Academic honors this season.  The team is one of 30 recognized as meeting the criteria set by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.  Coaches are responsible for gathering the necessary documentation and submitting it to the Association.  Teams that have a team cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher meet the criteria to receive this award from the Coaches Association.

     Seniors are eligible for individual awards with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and The Ladies have 3 who earned this honor:

Marie DeYoung
Hannah Jonio
Amanda Russell

     Great Job Girls!  Way to get it done in the classroom as well as on the field!  Well Done!!

     Coops season ended tonight on a shot from 20 yards away that floated into the goal.  Oakridge scored 10 minutes into overtime, ending the Lady Broncos most successful season ever with a record of 15-5. 
     Coops had chances to score, and outshot Oakridge 15-13 in the game.  Coops played extremely hard and left it all on the field, as they have every game this season.   
     The defense did an outstanding job of marking, and the midfielders played hard on both sides of the ball.  Amanda was outstanding in goal, giving Coops the opportunity to win by shutting down any chances.
     Congratulations to our seniors; Amanda, Danielle, Hannah, Janelle, Jenna, Marie, & Nikki.  We will never forget you, or the contributions you've made to this team and our program.  We wish you the best of luck in all that you attempt in the future.

     The Lady Broncos hosted Hamilton in what became a very unusual game.  The game was played in a steady downpour, at 4:00 PM, in front of a small group of fans who braved the 40 degree temperatures and a strong wind out of the south.

     Both teams had chances in the first half, but both keepers made key saves to keep the game scoreless at halftime.  Again, the weather was horrible, but the field was in perfect condition for play.  We really are fortunate to have such an outstanding facility.

     The teams came out in the 2nd half and played back and forth in the midfield, with each team creating a few chances to score.  Hamilton scored their only goal on a play in which the Hamilton player carried around the field from the right side, passed to a player on the left, who then drove downfield and fired a shot on an angle past Mary.  Hamilton would keep the lead until late in the game.

     With time running down, and the chances becoming harder to come by, Coops pressed upfield and tried to create opportunities.  That opportunity presented itself, and with 1:17 left on the clock, Amanda stuck a shot from the 18 into the far corner of the goal for the 1-1 tie.  Cassie and Mary had the assists for the goal, but Mary started the play by winning the punt from the keeper, and carrying it up before passing to Cassie.  No other chances were had for either team as time ran out.

     Overall, it was a difficult game to play due to the conditions but the team stayed with it and never quit.  That's what is most impressive about this game; down by 1 and score in the final minutes to get the tie.

     Coops travels to Sparta on Monday for their final league game of the 1st round.  After that, it will be the Conference tournament.

     The JV game was cancelled due to Hamilton not being able to field enough players for the game.  They had another school commitment.

    

Are you Serious!!!  

     Shoes in the mailbox, pressbox, around the basketball pole, the picket fence, shoes in the tree. 

     Who would believe that just two days after being given absolution for a previous crime, some girls would return and commit it again?

     Could it be to out-do the JV girls who got their coaches house?  Or could it just be that these girls like to be funny?
 
     Unbelievably, the group came back and forked the Varsity Coach's homestead again.  To their imaginative credit, they also found time to hang (Sarah Jane) some shoes in the front tree.  Some of these individuals even left a calling card or two (Jessey & AP) as they left names on shoes and obvious markings on shin guards.

     Fortunately, the coach thinks he'll get his revenge when some parents begin asking where their cleats, shoes, and shin guards are.  I'm pretty sure that if these girls want their stuff back, they'll need to come and get it themselves.   

     We'll eventually find out who these nine girls (yeah, I got the message on each individual knife) are.   The previous 5 are all guilty, I know they are (you too Michelle).  Newcomers had to be Sarah Jane and AP, so I really need to find only two (A-Hehl & Caitlin).  Well done, girls!

     I'm sure I'll see some of you at Amy's grad party... if you can keep a straight face, I'll be impressed. 

PS - A-Hehl... I know you were one of them... I have proof...

"on a sad note.. soccer is over. i cried for awhile and was sad before i got over it! i love those girls!! speaking of those girls, we went out and had some top secret fun last night... omg.. i'll put up pichas when i see some he...he...he"

You are so caught!!!  Go ahead and use the pichas, I don't mind...

     Both Lady Bronco teams earned victories at Sparta tonight in front of many pleased fans.  The girls and coaches appreciate the support that was shown by the large number of fans and the vocal support that accompanied it.  You guys ROCKED!!!

Varsity
     The Lady Broncos controlled most of the play through the entire game, keeping the ball on the Sparta side for at least 75% of playing time. 
     Just 5 minutes into the game, Lexie crossed a ball in front of the goal and Theresa banged it in for the 1-0 lead.  Coops outshot Sparta 10-0 in the 1st half, which included fine control of the ball and impressive defense to stop any Spartan advances.  All 21 players who were dressed for the game played on the field in the 1st half.
     With only 2 minutes gone in the 2nd half, Lexie crossed another ball in front of the goal, and it was Theresa again knocking the ball into the goal, with her head!  It was an outstanding play, one of the nicest we've seen from the Lady Broncos.  Sparta scored on a ball that got past Amanda and she couldn't catch up to it before it crossed the line.  Tough defense and a gritty performance by the defense and midfielders kept the game in hand for the Lady Broncos.  Coops outshot Sparta 21-2 for the game.
     The Lady Broncos play again on Wednesday at Ottawa Hills.
     A map is available below, next to the game at the bottom of this page.

JV
    For a first time team, on the road, these girls played very tough.  They controlled most of the action, and passed well amongst themselves.  The defense played incredibly well as they earned the shutout in the 1st game ever played by a JV Lady Broncos team. 
     Sami, Audra, and Kristi each scored a goal to give the JV's their 3, and Mary and Stephanie combined for the shutout in goal.  All the other girls contributed with their hard efforts, and the results showed on the score board.  It was a solid effort by a good group of girls.  This team will be fun to watch!

  Five was the magic number for both teams, and that number resulted in Wins for both squads.  Both teams are 2-0 heading into spring break.

Varsity
     The Lady Broncos jumped out to a quick lead in the first few minutes as Rochelle passed to Sarah B. who then buried the ball into the back of the goal.  Coops played well at times but seemed out of sync. 
     After some halftime adjustments, the girls came out fired up and scored 4 consecutive goals in the first 20 minutes to seal the game.  Sarah added 3 second half goals to earn her 4 for the game, tying the school record that she already shares with Lexie.  Jesse D. added a goal, her 1st of the season. Assists were recorded by Jessica K., Theresa, and Sara A as well.
     The Lady Broncos head into spring break with a 2-0 record and return to game action on Tuesday April 13 vs. GR Central.

JV
     The JV's came out strong and scored 3 goals in the 1st half to take the lead, and control play for most of the half.  Sami played in goal, and played well.  The JV's added 2 goals in the 2nd half to secure their 2nd consecutive shutout.  Mary played solid in goal during the 2nd half.
     Amber scored 3 times, while Jacquie added 2 more.  It was a good showing by the JV's who are improving each time they take the field.
    They also return to action at GR Central on April 13.

  The Lady Broncos began their 2006 season with a Home game vs. Spring Lake on Tuesday.  The Lady Broncos have never beaten Spring Lake, and that trend continued, although this time they didn't lose.

  The Ladies started out on their heels a bit as Spring Lake played most of the first 15 minutes on Coops side of the field.  The team battled tough and never gave the Lakers a real good look at the goal.  The Mids began to press a little and started to create some nice ball movement and were getting the ball up the field to the forwards.  Coops had a good scoring opportunity with around 25 minutes left in the half but the ball sailed over the crossbar.  The rest of the 1st half was back and forth.
  
  The Ladies came out in the 2nd half and played much better, making the adjustments the coaches brought to their attention at halftime.  The forwards had numerous chances as their teammates kept moving the ball upfield.  Coops had some decent scoring opportunities, but Spring Lakes defense and keeper were up for it.  The game was over with the score where it was when the game started.

  Great job ladies, it was a good first game of the season.

Game photos courtesy of Kelly Hill (GR Press)

 

Varsity-   Wyoming Park earned the 4th seed for the Conference tournament with the win at home.  Coops best possible finish is now 5th place after outshooting Park 26-15.  Shots found their way either wide of the goal or to the keeper which created the need for more chances to be taken.
     Park scored their 2nd goal with 13 minutes left, and although Coops managed 5 more shots in the last 13 minutes, they couldn't convert any of them into goals.
     The Lady Broncos will host Hamilton in non-league action on Friday.  Game times may be adjusted due to school activities at Hamilton.

JV-     The first half of the Wyoming park game was real similar to the first half of the Calvin game.  The ball control and passing wasn’t where it needed to be.  Each team had a couple of scoring chances but failed to convert.  At the end of the first half the score was 0-0. 

     However, the second half was a different story for the Broncos.  We regained our composure and began to rely on one another instead of trying to do it all alone.  The passing to each other became crisper and our confidence began to grow.  The ladies began to win the 50/50 balls and thus allowed them to be in the offensive end of the field.  Julie made a nice pass to Jess who shot from just inside the right corner of the 18 yard box and hit the far side of the net.  The defense was very stingy and used their most valuable weapon, the trap, to keep Park off balanced.  In fact at one point in the game Park was called offside four times in a row. 
     Teamwork!!!  The last goal came from Anna after Shelby and Tara were persistent around the keeper and caused her to misplay a ball.  The two of them were able to knock the ball loose and it fell in front of Anna who shot it into the empty net.  Ladies, the coaching staff is very proud of how you came out and played the second half.  That is the team we know and love.   

The Lady Broncos opened league play tonight against the Rebels from Lee and scored quickly, with Amanda registering the first goal off an assist from AP.

Stephanie scored in her first game played in the field less than 2 minutes later.  Amanda scored her second goal with Julie getting the assist.  Angie stepped up to score her first goal of the season, followed by goals from AP (assisted by Amanda), Amanda (hat trick) assisted by AP, Tara (assisted by Mary), Tara again, and Cassie.

The team played better but knows it must improve continuously to get to where they want to be.  No resting on games past!  Keep moving forward and learn from everything that happens.  Overall, it was a job well done to play at our level and not slow down. 

Mary started in goal and was relieved by Kita.  Coops outshot Lee 27-0. 

The mercy rule was applied at half-time and the game was called.  Lee's girls battled throughout and never gave up, a credit to them and their coaches.

The JV's will play at Allendale at 5:00 on Tuesday, and the Varsity and JV travel to Cedar Springs on Wednesday for another league game.  Next Saturday will be the 2nd annual Lady Bronco Invitational.

The Lady Bronco Varsity Soccer Team has secured their 4th consecutive All-State All-Academic honor for the 2007 season.  The team accomplished this feat with a combined cumulative GPA of 3.54, the highest GPA for the team yet. 

Seniors are also eligible to receive honors for a GPA higher than 3.5.  We have 4 who earn the award this season; Erin Buist, Chelsea Clark, Mary Lothschutz, and Amanda VanderKlay.

Congratulations to the team for continuing the streak, and also to the individual Seniors for their accomplishment.

Great Job Girls!

  The 2nd Annual Lady Bronco Invitational was held at Coopersville today with Kenowa Hills, Jenison, West Catholic, and Coopersville.  We had great weather, tough soccer, and no serious injuries which made the day a complete success.

  In the Varsity tourney Kenowa Hills beat Coopersville 2-0 to earn a spot in the Championship, and Jenison beat West Catholic 2-0 to earn their spot in the Finals.

  West Catholic and Coopersville met in the 3rd place game with West Catholic scoring a 3-0 win, and Jenison claimed the Championship by handing Kenowa Hills a 3-0 loss.

  In the JV tourney Kenowa Hills beat Coopersville 1-0 to earn a spot in the Championship, and Jenison beat West Catholic 1-0 to earn their spot in the Finals.

  West Catholic and Coopersville met in the 3rd place game with Coopersville scoring a 1-0 win (shootout), and Jenison claimed the Championship by handing Kenowa Hills a 1-0 loss.

  Pictures will be available soon; Championship and Runner-up team pictures will be available along with some action shots.

  Thanks to everyone who came out for a day of fun in the sun.  All Varsity coaches have expressed their eagerness to do it again next season so we'll plan on the same participants next April.

  A special thanks goes out to those who worked the tournament to make it such a well run event.  Your support and willingness to help is greatly appreciated!  These include the Athletic boosters, our Junior high coaches & players, the CHS Athletic department, Mary Nash, Mel Kelly, Karen Morgan, Bethany (our trainer), and all of our ball runners.

  Thanks again for a great day! 

  The Lady Broncos traveled to Cedar Springs and played determined soccer. The defense was intense the entire game and the mids and forwards were fighting hard to gain possession. Cedars goal came from a corner kick midway through the 1st half as Steph moved forward to play the ball and saw it carry over her head. Steph played well throughout the game, with support from the rest of the team, to keep the final score at 1-0.

  The team kept the intensity turned up in the second half as they tried to put one in, but could not manage to finish with a goal. The effort was outstanding on the field and bench as everyone was contributing any way they could. Improvements were made in areas of concern earlier, and the team is playing better after their 3rd game of the season.

  The Invitational is on Saturday at CHS.

  The Lady Broncos scored three goals in a 10 minute period in the 1st half for a 3-0 lead and took control from there.  The win puts their league record at 2-2.

  Mary opened up the box score with a goal that Amanda assisted on.  Cassie took a loose ball, carried for 10 yards, and drilled a shot into the net for the 2nd goal.  Michelle (Lucy) scored her 1st goal of the season on a nice shot from 15 yards out.  Godwin got on the board after a misplayed ball was sent into the goal by their forward.  The score was 3-1 at half-time.

  The 2nd half was played mostly on Godwins side as the Lady Broncos kept pressure on.  Julie broke through for her goal after receiving a nice pass from Amanda.

  The defense played well and kept control of their marks, stepping up to make solid stops on any attempts.  Godwin was limited to 5 shots at goal.  Steph played well in goal to ensure no other goals were allowed.

  The next opponent is TK Middleville in a non-league match on Friday.  Kick-off is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

  In the JV match, the Lady Broncos hosted West Michigan Christian and allowed a goal in each half and eventually lost 2-0.  Improvements were seen in several areas as the team continues to work on strengthening their abilities.
They return to action on Friday at 5:00 PM against TK Middleville.

  The Lady Broncos hosted TK Middleville and played very tough despite having only 13 of 20 players dressed to play.  Three JV players made their Varsity debut a solid effort and contributed greatly.  Tareyn played well in goal with help from Molly in defense, and Shelby had some nice runs and was aggressive continuously.

  That play along with the outstanding effort of the Varsity members who were playing held a quick TK team in check for the first 20 minutes of the game.  The pressure was high at two points in the last 20 minutes of the half and that's when TK scored their goals.  The team allowed a goal late in the game for the 3-0 final.

  In what has become an all too familiar sight this season, the Lady Broncos watched as an injured player left the field again.  The difference is that this time it's season ending.  Trina will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering a broken leg which resulted from contact with a player from TK.  This event is a terrible loss for the team as Trina was playing well.  We wish Trina the best comfort possible as she heals from this injury. 

  The JV's had 3 goals scored against them in the first 8 minutes, then shut down all attempts to score again and were down 3-0 at halftime.  They were playing without 5 of their players tonight. 
  The team allowed another goal in the 2nd half for the 4-0 final.  It was a great team effort.

  The Lady Broncos began play on Monday at Rogers and concluded it on Tuesday with a 7-1 win vs. the Golden Hawks.
The team made nice runs and passes to create chances, then finished them as they completed their 2nd day at Rogers.

  The score was 3-0 heading into play on Tuesday with 16:38 left in the first half.  Rogers came out aggressively to hold the score at 3-0 at halftime.  Rogers scored the first goal of the 2nd half to close the game to 3-1, but the Lady Broncos scored the next 4 goals for the final score.
  
  Goals were scored by Mary, Julie, AP, and Tara; Cassie had 3 goals in the game.  Assists were recorded by Amanda, Mary, Julie, Amber, and AP had 2 assists.  Stephanie played well in goal, surrounded by a tough defense that limited Rogers attempts to score.

JV - The JV girls came out with high intensity at the start of the game and was able to capitalize with a goal from Shelby with her first shot, Sarah had the assist.  Anna was the next one to find the back of the net to make the score 2-0. 

  Play continued to go back and forth then the combination of Sarah to Shelby was able to produce another goal.  Shelby then had another break away and was able to score thus giving her a hat trick.  We went into half time with the score 4-0. 

  The girls were very excited and anxious to get the second half going.  Meredith scored in the second half for her first high school career goal.  Hannah DeKracker then scored our 6th goal after Emily crossed the ball from the left side.  This was Emily's first time playing as forward and she made the most of her time by not only having an assist but also scoring our last goal for the night.

  The team played tough, physical soccer and battled a tough team from Wyoming Park to a 0-0 halftime score.  Both teams had several chances but couldn't put one past either keeper.
  Park scored their goal on a loose ball that was kicked toward the goal, and ruled as "crossing the line".  
  Coops goal was a result of a free kick that was called after Amanda was kicked in the head after getting knocked down in the box.  Cassie banged the shot past all of Parks players as they stood on the goal line.  The score was 1-1 at the end of regulation.
  Both teams managed few shots in OT as the defenses maintained their positions.  Park scored the game winner with 3 minutes left in the game on a loose ball that bounced around in front of the goal before being knocked in.
  The final shots at goal was Park with 10 and the Lady Broncos with 8.  Stephanie played well in goal, with support from the players in front of her.
  The loss sends the Lady Broncos record to 3-4 in league play, with Sparta and Belding left on the regular season schedule.  The Conference tournament will follow, with opponents being determined by their position in the league standings.
 

  The JV girls won a hard fought battle against the Wyoming Park Vikings.  The first half of play seem to get bogged down in the middle of the field.  Each team did get a couple of scoring chances but the keepers were up to the task and stopped anything from going in.  We ended at half time in a scoreless tie.

    The second half was very similar to the first half, play continued to move from the 18 yard marker to the 18 yard marker.  Our defensive group played extremely tough and only allowed 6 scoring chances to Vikings.  However their defense was just a stingy.  Then the Vikings were called for a foul outside of the box.  Tareyn took the kick from her defender position and placed a ball into the middle of the field.  Shelby was the first one to the loose ball and was able to pass it back to Meridith at which she turned and fired a shot past WP's keeper. 
  This would be the only score for the Broncos but it was enough thanks to a wonderful play by Amber.  We werre called for a questionable foul inside the box.  This set the stage for WP to have a penalty kick.  Amber stared into the kickers eyes and was able to stop the ball from going into the net and preserving the shut out and the win for the Broncos.  The final score was 1-0.  I was very proud of the effort that the girls gave in the game.  The thing that impresses me the most about this team is that they don't give up.  No matter how much I push them, and believe me I push them very hard at times, they will not give up.  It is this attitude that allowed us to win today.

  Sparta came to Coopersville and battled with the Lady Broncos. They also registered three goals in an eight-minute stretch during the 1st half to score all the goals they would need to secure a win.

  The three goals came after Amanda slammed a shot into the net after receiving a nice feed from AP to set the score at 1-0. That goal put the Lady Broncos in front, but it wouldn't last long.

  Less than 4 minutes later came the scoring flurry by Sparta on shots that were placed where Steph couldn't get to them. The score was 3-1 at the half.

  The team came out and scored a goal in the first minute of the 2nd half closing the gap to a goal. Julie sent a corner kick into the middle and Amanda knocked it home for the goal.  That would be the end of the scoring for the game as the teams played back and forth, up and down the field.

  The next game will be played on Saturday in Jenison. The JV's begin at 10 AM followed by the Varsity.

  The team played inspired defense, moving with the opponents every step of the way and limiting the Wildcats scoring chances. Steph played well in goal stopping everything Jenison threw at her. It was especially refreshing to see the ladies perform in positions that aren't their normal places. The defense held their marks and the support from the mids was exceptional. The team followed the game plan wonderfully and the 0-0 score reflected that.

  The 2nd half started the same way with the ladies stopping any attempt, but eventually the pressure was too much and a couple goals were relenquished. Jenison added a late goal on a ball that stayed in front of the goal for what seemed like an eternity.

  This was a great team effort coming into a game in which they were clearly the underdog, but stepped up to prove they can play with any team when they are determined and work hard.

  The regular league season concludes on Monday at Coops when Belding comes to town. JV's start at 5:00 followed by the varsity.  

    The team welcomed Belding in for the final regular league game of the season and scored 8 goals for the win.  This brings the league record to 4-5 and places the team in 6th place after the regular league round.  We'll play on Wednesday at Calvin Christian in the first round of the league tourney.  Varsity will play at 4 PM, followed by the JV's.

    Belding played hard and never gave up, a credit to them and their coaches.  They will improve, and are a nice bunch of kids.

    Goals were scored by Sarah V. on a corner kick, Lucy on a blast from another area code, Sarah VK (THE Sweeper), Cassie - twice, and Mary (where's your hat?) - thrice.  Assists were registered by Sarah V, Jess L, and two from Jules.

   The team now prepares for the league tourney, and will try to finish strong.  

JV- The team was down 1-0 at half-time, but rallied with 3 goals in the 2nd half for the 3-1 win.

  The strong wind and speed of Calvin were too much to handle in the 1st half as the Lady Broncos fell behind by allowing 5 goals.  Steph played strong in goal and made some nice saves with help from the support in front of her.  
 
  The team played a strong 2nd half by moving the ball, and working together to hold Calvin's chances and them to one goal.  The defense held strong and the mids and forwards had some nice runs through the defense.

  The loss means the Lady Broncos will be at home on Monday to continue the league tournament against Godwin.  We are trying to find an opponent for the JV team since Godwin doesn't field a JV team.  We'll post information as soon as it has been determined.

JV's - The JV's scored a goal in the 1st half, and held Calvin to a goal in the 2nd half for a 1-1 tie.  The girls played extremely hard and well; each player contributed in the effort. 

  The team traveled to Hamilton and played one of its better defensive games in a 1-0 shutout of the Hawkeyes.  The defensive strategy paid off as Hamilton couldn't crack the aggressive Lady Broncos defenders. 

  Both teams had opportunities to score in the first half, but it was the Lady Broncos putting in the only goal that would be scored with over 10 minutes remaining in the 1st half.

  Mary gained possession around midfield, carried for about 10 yards, and crossed a thru ball to Amanda who rushed to the ball and beat the keeper from Hamilton.  The shot was a slow rolling ball that got into the goal before a Hamilton defender could stop it.

  Stephanie kept Hamilton off the board with a spectacular save with under 2 minutes to play in the 1st half.  As a Hamilton player closed in on the right side of the goal, she shot into the left post area but Steph dove and swatted the ball wide just before it crossed the goal line.  The save energized the team, and was one of the best saves we've ever witnessed by a Lady Bronco keeper.

  The 2nd half showed why playing tough competition makes you stronger.  The Lady Broncos remained calm as Hamilton tried to mount pressure and tie the game.  The team kept stopping each run at the goal, and limited the quality of opportunities for Hamilton to score.  Hamilton finished the game with 10 shots on goal; the Lady Broncos had 7 shots.

  Coops returns to action in the 2nd round of the league tourney on Monday when they face Godwin.  Kickoff is scheduled for 4 PM at Coopersville.  The JV's will play Allendale following the Varsity game.

 

  The Lady Broncos scored 68 seconds into the game, but Godwin played hard and forced the Lady Broncos to play hard the entire game.  Cassie scored the Lady Broncos first goal on determination as she stayed with the ball on the goal line and struck a hard shot into the side of the net for the 1-0 lead.

  Godwin tied the game on a long shot that floated over Steph's outstretched arms.  The score was 1-1 at the half.

  Cassie scored her second goal of the game by continuing to dig out shots.  Her pursuit of a loose ball in front of the Godwin goal paid off when she scored at 25:28 in the 2nd half. 

  Godwin would tie the game on a missed mark less than 9 minutes later, but AP knocked a 20 yard shot off a Godwin defender for the final goal with less than 11 minutes left in the game.

  The team worked very hard for the win, and Godwin was much improved from the last time we saw them.  The win gives the team three wins in their last four games.

  JV's - The JV's played Allendale to a 1-1 tie in a closely contested match.

The final regular season game will be played on Tuesday May 22 at Sparta.  The JV's play at 5 PM, followed by the Varsity at 6:45 PM.

The team bus will depart at 3:45 from CHS.

 The team played its 2nd game in 2 days and earned a tough 2-1 win in OT at Sparta.  The game was played in warm temperatures with a reduced number of players due to a school function.

  Sparta scored first after 10 minutes of play on a play that the team defended well, but Sparta's player made a nice play and sneaked the ball past Steph.  That would be their last goal of the game.  Coops went up and down the field with Sparta for the rest of the half and entered the break trailing 1-0.

  The Lady Broncos controlled play to start the 2nd half and had some nice runs and crossed which created opportunities but no goals.  That changed when Amanda sent a ball across the field just 10 minutes into the 2nd half, and Cassie slammed the ball in for the tying goal.

  The rest of regulation play continued back and forth with a few more decent opportunities for the Lady Broncos, and the defense playing well to control the ball.  Erin, Sarah V, Sarah VK, Geena, Shelby, and Emily played strong in defense stopping all advances by the Spartans.

  The teams began OT with both teams playing cautiously on the defensive side.  The Lady Broncos increased the pressure offensively, and Shelby was moved into midfield to help create some more chances.  Shelby responded by finding a pass from Cassie and placing it into the far side of the goal for the game winner with 4:14 left in OT.  Her play was a tribute to how hard the mids had worked all game.  Jess, Mary, Julie, Lucy, and AP performed well throughout the game.

  Congratulations on a strong finish to the regular season...

JV's- The JV's played hard and concluded their season with a 1-0 loss.

  Coopersville played host to Spring Lake in District play on Tuesday and kept the winner in question until 6 minutes were left before Spring Lake scored the final goal that cemented the lead.  Spring Lake entered the game with a 12-3-1 record, and the Lady Broncos entered with a record of 7-11.

  The teams met to open the season in March at Spring Lake with the Lakers beating the Lady Broncos 6-0.  This game would have a different feel altogether.

  Spring Lake scored twice in the opening half and carried much of the play.  Steph played great in goal registering 13 saves in the 1st half alone, and 16 for the game.  The defense and mids worked hard to limit Spring Lakes advances.

  The 2nd half saw the Lady Broncos step up and out play their opponents.  Julie scored with 17 minutes to play to bring the Lady Broncos within one goal.  The effort that each player gave on the field today is indicative of the spirit of these girls.  They refused to quit, and played to win.

  It wasn't until the mark was removed from the Lakers leading scorer with 10 minutes left that she was allowed to score.  Mary did wonderfully to shut down a player that not many teams have shut down.  

  The other game at Coops on Tuesday featured GR Catholic Central vs. Muskegon Oakridge, and it was Oakridge scoring a 5-0 win.

  The Semi-finals were played on Thursday at Coopersville with West Catholic beating Muskegon Orchard View 7-0, and Oakridge beating Spring Lake 3-1.

  The Finals on Saturday featured West Catholic vs. Oakridge, with Oakridge winning 3-0.
 

  It was a cold, but bright March Saturday for this years Invitational.  Teams played hard, and soccer was back after a long cold winter.

  Many thanks go out to the people who helped pull this years tournament off... It was a great success!

Varsity Tournament Results

Coopersville 1  Kenowa Hills 0  

West Catholic 4  Hamilton 0

Hamilton 3  Kenowa Hills 1

Varsity Championship

West Catholic 2  Coopersville 1

JV Tournament Results

  The Lady Broncos battled Spring Lake, but defensive breakdowns in various locations of the field gave way to the Lakers scoring 4 first half goals in the season opener for both teams.  The Lady Broncos scored their lone goal in the first half on a nice cross from the right corner by Kailey that was buried into the goal by Melissa.

  The teams played the second half to a 1-1 draw as the Lady Broncos picked up play on the defensive end, limiting the Lakers to four 2nd half shots.  Kailey and Melissa combined again for the Lady Broncos 2nd half goal on a cross and slam into the net.

  Not the result that the girls were looking for, but they battled hard and watching the game film will reveal areas for improvement.  There were also some bright spots that were evident during the game, and the girls will see those as well. 

  The team will be back in action on Saturday for the Invitational at 9:00 vs Kenowa Hills.

  The Varsity keeps steadily improving with each game.  The effort vs. Allendale was outstanding, and each team member can take pride in helping the team achieve its 2nd shut-out of the young season and best group effort yet.

  Tareyn had 2 saves in goal, and the defense did a great job of limiting any Allendale threats.  Allendale's best scoring chance came as time expired in the game, but strong pressure forced the shot to go high and wide.  Sarah, Julie, Shelby, Jessica, Molly, and Maya contributed on defense in keeping the ball away from the goal.

  The Lady Broncos outshot Allendale 22-2.  The mids did a great job of winning 50/50 balls and distributing them well to teammates who put themselves in position to score. 

  Goals were scored by Kailey (2) - the first a very nice header, Melissa (2), Anna, and Marie.  Assists were made by Melissa (3) - ties the school record for assists in a game.

  Great effort by everyone, keep up the hard work and intensity.

JV - beat Allendale by a score of 4-0 to even their record at 2-2.  Great job girls!

  The Lady Broncos ran past Central, posting a 8-0 victory.  Fast breaks, break-aways, and follow-ups created most of the opportunities.  Hard work, determination, and well placed shots created the goals.

  Goals were scored by Anna, Marie, Kailey, Julie, Cassie (2), and Melissa (2).  Assists were earned by Melissa, Cassie, Kailey, and Marie broke the school record for assists in a game with 4 assists.

  In goal, Kita had 2 saves in the first half and Tareyn played the 9 minutes in the second half before the game was called after the 8th goal. 

  The team travels to West Catholic on Thursday for a rematch of the Invitational Championship game.  It shouldn't take much to get the girls fired up for this one.

  Great job to the entire team on taking care of business and getting it done.

JV - Coopersville scored six times to beat the Rams of GR Central, 6-0.  Nicole played for the first time as goal keeper and recorded her first shut out.  Due to great defensive pressure she only had to face 1 shot. 

  Contributing to the six goals was Emily with 3 goals (hat trick), Laura with 1, and scoring their first goals of the season were Aubreanne and Hannah. Assisting with the six goals was Grace with 2, Alicia and Meredith each had 1. 

  We now get ready to play a good West Catholic team on Thursday.

  After battling for 61 minutes, the Lady Broncos surrendered the first goal of the game on a breakaway that made its way past Kita.  Two penalty kicks in the 71st minute put West up 3-0 with just over 9 minutes remaining.

  The Lady Broncos scored twice in the next six minutes to bring the score to 3-2.  The team tried for the equalizer but West wouldn't allow that.  Kailey had the first goal that got things going.  Anna had the assist on a nice feed.  Kailey added her second goal on an assist from Cassie. 

  Impressive ending to a well played game.  Circumstances got a little weird at the end, but the girls never quit and fought their way back to have a chance at the end.  West is a solid team, and the girls can be proud of their effort; West was just a little better tonight.

  The Lady Broncos came out and controlled play from the start, creating 20 shots on the keeper from Lee.  Goals were scored by Kailey (2), Melissa, Marie, Kita, Cassie, Franzi, and Tareyn.  Assists were registered by Marie (2), Cassie, Kailey, and Melissa.

  Tareyn played the 1st half in goal, Kailey finished the remaining time in the net.  This is the teams 4th shutout in 7 games, and leads into the opening of league play on Monday against Wyoming Park.

  The Lady Broncos are at Home on Monday at 6:45 PM.

JV - The JV's played strong and scored 10 times vs. Lee for their 4th win of the season.

  As their fundraiser this season, the Lady Bronco players and coach's performed community service on Saturday April 26 in the Coopersville area from 8 AM - 1 PM.

  Work was done at the school and in Downtown Coopersville.  Jobs included cleaning the stadium, weeding the mulch beds around the entrance to the high school. Work downtown included weeding the mulch beds and cleaning up trash, as well as raking out left over materials from the winter.     

   We have begun receiving both pledges and flat donations.  We sincerely appreciate the generous support we have been given.   To date we have received close to $2500 in donations.

  Donations have already begun to be put to use.  The Athletic Department purchased head protection for the Varsity this spring, and your donations have purchased the same head protection for the JV.  Every one of our players now has head protection which they wear during practice and games.  New practice balls, bags, and practice vests have also been purchased.  More items will be coming soon.

  Sincere thanks to all who are helping us achieve this endeavor!

  Thanks again for your incredible support!

  A very physical game turned on the Lady Broncos as they were beaten by Wyoming Park 3-0 and suffered a loss in their league opener.  Tareyn played well in goal but 3 missed marks resulted in the 3 goals.  The Lady Broncos had several nice attempts but were unable to get one in the net.

  It was a tough game, but the girls learned some valuable lessons... ones that will benefit them later this season.  They are eager to move on and continue building.  The Lady Broncos are now 4-4 on the season.

  The team will travel to Rogers on Wednesday and will try to even their league record.

JV - The JV's pounded Wyoming Park 4-1, and it wasn't even that close.  The girls dominated play and kept possession for the majority of the game.  The win moves them to 5-3 on the season.

  The Lady Broncos recorded their 5th shutout of the season today by beating Rogers 5-0.  The team outshot Rogers 27-3, improving their overall record to 5-4.  They are 1-1 in the league.

  Play was often in the Rogers defensive side of the field as the team kept pressure on throughout the game.  Kailey scored 3 goals and Melissa had 2 as the team ran often past Rogers.  Anna recorded the lone assist on the day. 

  The defense and mids did a nice job in front of Tareyn, who earned the shutout in goal.  Everyone contributed in this effort, and it was nice to see the girls play their normal style of soccer again.

  The team travels to Cedar Springs on Monday for a league matchup.  Kick-off is scheduled for 6:46 PM. 

JV - The team improved their record to 6-3 with a 5-0 victory at Rogers.  This team is playing well, but faces a tough task at Cedar Springs on Monday.

  The Lady Broncos welcomed Allendale for a rematch and won, but not without noticing the improvement by the Falcons. 

  Goals were scored by Melissa (2), and Kailey (2) for the 4-1 half-time lead.  Kailey, Cassie, and Elise had the assists. 

  Allendale scored first in the 2nd half to close the gap to 4-2, but the Lady Broncos responded with goals by Cassie and Julie to seal the victory.  Melanie and Melissa had the assists.

  The win was nice, and the teams effort was H & P (Thanks Coach Mindy)... but the best highlight of the game came with just under 6 minutes remaining when Sarah VK entered the game.  It's been a long battle for Sarah, and she's not fully recovered yet, but seeing her enter the field tonight was one of the best moments our program has ever experienced.  Well done, Sarah!

  The team travels to Forest Hills Eastern on Monday to continue league play.  Kick-off is set for 6:45 PM.

JV's - The JV's battled Ravenna, but suffered a 4-1 loss.  They travel to FHE on Monday for a 5 PM start.

  The Lady Broncos ran into a skilled team from Cedar Springs and struggled to gain and maintain possession.  Passing was difficult, although they did string some nice runs together and create a few chances. 

  Cedar outshot the Lady Broncos 16-3, scoring twice in each half for their 4 goals.  Kailey scored the lone goal for the Lady Broncos after receiving an assist from Melanie.

  The Lady Broncos league record is now at 1-2, their overall record is at 5-5.

  Sparta is next on the schedule in another league match-up on Wednesday.  Both games are at Sparta with the JV's playing at 5 PM followed by the Varsity.

 JV - The JV's battled for 70 minutes, but neither team could score and the teams finished deadlocked at 0-0.

  After a sluggish 1st half, the Lady Broncos played a much better 2nd half and scored 3 times on their way to a 4-1 road victory at Sparta.  The score was tied at 1-1 after a 1st half which saw the team dominate play and possession but not finish.  Anna scored the lone goal in the half with an assist from Cassie.

  The team took the half-time talk to heart, made the necessary adjustments, and created solid scoring opportunities and then finished them with goals.  Goals were registered by Marie, Cassie, and Melissa.  Assists were earned by Melissa, Marie, and Kailey.

  The defense did a great job of limiting Sparta's runs at the goal, holding them to 3 shots in the game.  Coopersville held a 26-3 shot advantage for the game.  The win evens the league record at 2-2 and improves the overall record to 6-5.

  Allendale comes to town on Friday, ending the teams 3 game road trip.  Kick-off is set for 6:45 in the Stadium.

 JV's - after a scoreless 1st half, Sparta scored once in the 2nd half and kept the JV's off the board for a 1-0 win.  The JV's record now stands at 6-4-1.

  The Jr. High Lady Broncos have completed their season and have a 6-0-4 record.  The are the first team in Jr. High history to complete an undefeated season in soccer.

  These girls are also getting it done in the classroom.  All of the 8th graders who play on the team are on the Principal's List at the Jr. High.  This is very impressive, and equally important.  They are ready to step into the high school next year and continue our recent success of being All-State All-Academic.

  Great Job Girls!!!  Great Season!

  A goal scored against you in the first 32 seconds of the game could be a huge let down, but the girls fought through it.  Fighting hard for the next 20 minutes and seeing another one go in could have been back-breaking, but the girls fought through it.  Having another one scored less than 10 minutes later for a 3-0 margin could have been another let down, but the girls fought through it.  Scoring a goal with 2:59 left in the half to cut the lead to 3-1 was critical to keeping the game close.  When Melissa passed the ball to Cassie and she scored, it was very uplifting and carried over to the 2nd half.

  The 2nd half saw the teams play to a 0-0 tie, and gave the Lady Broncos some momentum heading into the 2nd half of league play.

  FHE is very skilled.  They controlled possession for much of the time.  The heart of the Lady Broncos came shining through as they kept working hard, and created some quality chances. 

  The team returns to play on Wednesday at Wyoming Park.  Kick-off is at 6:45 PM.

JV's - Played hard but was unable to slow down the talented FHE JV's resulting in the loss.  They return to action on Wednesday at Wyoming Park at 5:00 PM.

  Playing at Wyoming Park, the team found themselves down 1-0 at the half.  A penalty called in the box resulted in a PK, and that was the difference in the half.  The teams played hard, and even.  Park had a 9-6 shot advantage for the 1st half.

  Park scored the next 2 goals in the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half, and the game appeared to be decided.  Those who know the heart and character of this team know different.

  Kailey rolled past the defense, and lofted a high shot to the far post which ratttled the back of the net with 6:39 remaining.  With 4:05 left, Melissa found Anna and she moved in with a nicely placed shot to the opposite side of the goal and suddenly the score was 3-2.

  The team managed a few more nice runs, but were unable to mount a serious scoring threat.  The Lady Broncos outshot Park 16-13 for the game. 

  It was a valiant effort by the team, again.  There is absolutely no quit in this team, and it was impressive to watch them battle until the end.

  They return to the field on Saturday at 11:45 AM against Forest Hills Northern.

JV's - Beat Park by a score of 4-1 to get back in the win column.  They play FHN at 10:00 AM on Saturday.

  Forest Hills Northern came out and scored 2 goals in the first 67 seconds of the game.  They also scored a goal with 35 seconds left in the game.  Those 3 goals, added to the other pair they scored gave them 5 to the Lady Broncos 1 for the final score.

  Although FHN possessed the ball more, the team did well to defend against them and come back from the early 2 goals to score on a PK after Kailey was taken down on a break-away.  The FHN player was fortunate to only get the yellow instead of the red.  Melissa buried the shot top shelf to bring the score to 2-1 and get the Lady Broncos fired up.  FHN scored again with 3 minutes left to move to 3-1 at half-time.

  The teams went back and forth for much of the 2nd half, and the team did well to stop all of FHN's advances.  A misplayed ball by the Lady Broncos was kicked into their own goal for FHN's 4th, and FHN scored with 35 seconds left.

  The team played hard again, but those 2 minutes came back to haunt them.  The lesson has been taught; it remains to be seen if the team has learned the lesson.

  Cassie has been to the doctor and her ankle is not broken.  She'll see her family doctor on Monday for a follow-up.  We won't know her playing status until Monday.

  Rogers comes in on Monday as the Lady Broncos continue the 2nd round of league play.  The team needs to be ready to step up and play hard as we complete the last 2 weeks of the regular season.

  The Lady Broncos returned to league action and beat Rogers 6-0 posting their 6th shutout of the season.  The win moves their league record to 3-4, and their overall record to 8-8.

  Kita handled the keeper duties, stopping 2 shots by Rogers.  The defense did well to keep the ball away from the goal for most of the game.

  Goals were scored by Jessica, Marie, Kailey (2), and Melissa (2).  Assists were recorded by Marie (2), Melissa, and Kailey.  Many players had opportunities to score and play in different positions.  It was a total team effort.

  The team returns to action on Wednesday at 5:00 PM, hosting league leader Cedar Springs.  The game time was moved up to accomodate the Senior Athletic Banquet which is at 6:30 PM.  JV's will play at 6:45 PM.

JV's - Beat Rogers 4-0, and controlled play for much of the game.

  In what many presumed would be a lopsided affair, the Lady Broncos came out and scored the first goal just over 10 minutes into the contest.  Melissa found Laura who found Kailey for the nice goal.

  Cedar would even things up 12 minutes later with a goal.  The tie was broken with 4:27 left in the half with the same combination as their first goal.  Melissa worked the ball to Laura, Laura sent it to Kailey, Kailey beat Cedar's keeper and rolled the ball into the goal for the 2-1 halftime lead.

  Cedar came out in the 2nd half and had more scoring opportunities, but the mids and defense did well to keep the ball out of the net until with 12 minutes remaining when Cedar scored the tying goal. 

  The first overtime was scoreless, although Cedar has a few nice attempts with the wind at their back.  The 2nd overtime saw more back and forth action, and Cedar finally scored the game winner with 8:19 remaining.

  It was a tremendous effort by the team.  They came very close to pulling off a huge victory against a talented team.  Keep working hard and giving 100% and good things will find you.

  The Lady Broncos host Sparta on Monday at 6:45 PM.

JV's - The team continues to play hard.  They fell to Cedar Springs 3-0, and will host Sparta on Monday at 5:00 PM.

  The record stands at 9-9 following a 3-0 win vs. Sparta.  The Lady Broncos outshot the Spartans 23-5 and led 1-0 at the half after Melissa scored with 15:41 left.  Kailey had the assist on a nice pass from the center of the field.

  The 2nd half saw the Lady Broncos score twice.  Kailey had a nice goal after receiving a pass from Laura, and Melissa scored her 2nd goal after Jessica headed the ball to her.  Kita had the shutout in goal, stopping a PK with less than 3 minutes left in the game.

  The defense and mids did well also, controlling play and limiting Sparta's advances.  The team returns to action on Wednesday at 5 PM vs. FHE.

JV's - The JV's scored first in the first 5 minutes of the game, but allowed a goal in the final seconds of each half to fall 2-1 to Sparta.  They conclude their season on Wednesday at 6:45 vs. FHE.

  For the second consecutive Wednesday, the team took a hard line and played extremely tough against a talented team.  This time it was Forest Hills Eastern, and the Lady Broncos held the lead for most of the game.

  FHE scored with 18 minutes remaining to send the game into overtime.  The Lady Broncos began the scoring just 13 minutes into the game on a free kick by Melissa that was knocked into the goal by Cassie.

  The teams played a scoreless OT and with 2 minutes left in the 2nd OT FHE scored on a shot that deflected off a defender and past Tareyn.

  Tareyn and the defense played outstanding defense, as did the entire team.  FHE outshot Coops 19-8, but the Lady Broncos kept up the intensity and again played very well.

  Keep working hard, Ladies.  District play begins Tuesday at home vs. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.  Kick-off is at 6 PM at Coopersville.

  The 2008 OK-Blue All-Conference team was selected yesterday by League coaches, and Coopersville had 3 players who were named All-Conference.

Congratulations to all of you!

Receiving All-Conference honors were:

1st team  

Melissa Hogan

Kailey Vlug

Honorable mention:

Julie Vander Jagt

  The Lady Broncos hosted the opening round of the 2008 MHSAA District vs.the Rockets from Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.  The game was decided in OT with the Lady Broncos coming up short by a score of 1-0.

  Opportunities were earned, but the team couldn't convert them to goals.  The team handled themselves with class throughout a very physical game.

  The ending of the season brings reflection, and this years team will be remembered for their heart, refusal to quit, and marked improvement from the beginning of the season.

  We must say farewell to our Seniors - Cassie, Jessica, Julie, Kita, and Sarah.  They have each contributed many things to our program in the last 4 seasons.

  We also say good-bye to our Exchange Students; Elise - Norway, Franzi - Germany, and Maya - Germany.  They've all brought something special to our team this season.  We will miss them very much!

  Thanks to our parents and fans for your support; you have been great!

  Sarah VanderKlay received the Doug Corradini Spirit Award last week.  This award is given to a senior athlete who portrays the same qualities of Doug Corradini.

  Doug was a popular athlete at CHS in the early 80's who was diagnosed with an illness during his Junior year, and passed away during his Senior year.  Doug was a talented athlete who was very spirited in everything he did.  Whether on the field or in the classroom, he excelled.  He was a mentor to younger players and was generally liked by everyone, parents and peers alike.

  This award is voted on by the Varsity coaches at CHS each year, and Sarah was deemed to be the recipient this year. 

  Because so many have asked to see the award presentation, you can view the speech given by Coach Harig and the presentation to Sarah by clicking on the link below.

  Well done Sarah!  Your teammates and the Coaching staff are all very proud of you!

  Julie has been chosen to be one of 100 Superstar Seniors this year.  She has done well in her career at CHS, and this selection again proves that we have very good people in our program.

  You can read her essay by clicking on the title.

  Congratulations Jules!

  End of season awards continue to roll in, and the All-District team was selected today.  The Lady Broncos have four members on the 2008 District 29-2 team.

  The players selected from the Lady Broncos are:

Kailey Vlug

Melissa Hogan

Julie Vander Jagt

Kita Harig

  Congratulations to these girls on this accomplishment!