East Lansing Breaks Free for 4th Title

November 2, 2013

By Tom Kendra
Special to Second Half 

KENTWOOD – Ben Swanson-Ralph was just looking to making something happen, to break the ice.

The senior forward did more than that – scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal late in the first half in East Lansing's 2-0 victory over Spring Lake on Saturday at Crestwood Middle School in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Boys Soccer championship game. 

"Out of all the goals I've ever scored in soccer, this was the best," said Swanson-Ralph, an all-stater last year as a junior, who finished his senior season with 15 goals and 12 assists.

"I've always dreamed about playing in the state championship game and scoring a goal, but to actually have it happen, is indescribable. I'll remember it my whole life." 

Swanson-Ralph picked up a loose ball about 25 yards in front of the goal, slid past a defender and then skidded a low shot into the right side of the net past Spring Lake keeper Joe Czajka. That tally broke a scoreless tie with 10:19 remaining in the first half.

The goal was critical because, up until that point, the game was progressing according to the plan of upset-minded Spring Lake. 

While East Lansing was dominating possession and shots and generally keeping the ball in the Spring Lake end, the Trojans had been unable to break through. The defensive-oriented Lakers, like a boxer that allows his opponent to wear himself out, would have loved to go into halftime with a scoreless tie at cold and windy Pat Patterson Field.

Instead, Swanson-Ralph's goal gave his team the cushion and confidence it needed to open up its high-octane offensive attack, according to 38th-year coach Nick Archer. 

East Lansing, which finished 25-2, won its fourth MHSAA boys soccer championship. The Trojans also won titles in 1987, 2002 and 2005, to go with two runner-up finishes.

"I am so proud of these kids," said Archer, whose team outscored its seven postseason opponents by a combined score of 22-1, including a 3-0 victory over No. 2 Linden in the Regional Final. "There is so much pressure these days. I just want them to enjoy this moment." 

East Lansing, which finished with an 8-3 edge in shots on goal, came out on fire in the second half - with close-range chances by junior DeJuan Jones and sophomore Ian Carroll being stymied by Czajka, the Lakers' last line of defense.

The consistent EL pressure finally broke through again with 33:55 remaining in the game, when Spring Lake was over-aggressive on a corner kick. 

The Trojans countered the Lakers' attack as Jones and Carroll broke into the open and then played a give-and-go game up the length of the artificial field in Kentwood. As they approached the goal, Carroll veered into the corner, drawing a defender, and then gave it back to Jones, who punched it into the back of the net. It was the 28th goal of the season for Jones, the Trojans' leading scorer.

"Ian and I hang out a lot and we know what the other one is thinking," said Jones. "We came out in the second half and tried to turn up the pressure and get another goal. It doesn't matter to us who scores; really, we just want to win." 

The Lakers had a couple of scoring opportunities the rest of the way, notably from senior striker Nic Ellingboe and sophomore Keegan George. The East Lansing defensive corps of Grant Brogan, Michie Nimsombun, Torey Redmond, Andy Millar and goalkeeper Blair Moore were up to the challenge on each occasion to preserve the lead. Moore had to make just one save.

Spring Lake, which finished 16-7-3, played in its second MHSAA championship game in the past three years under 13th-year head coach Jeremy Thelen. The Lakers fell to Auburn Hills Avondale, 2-1, in the 2011 Final. 

This year's Spring Lake team entered the tournament unranked with an underwhelming 10-6-3 record, but gained momentum when it stunned neighboring rival Fruitport, 2-1, in the District Semifinal. Fruitport had defeated Spring Lake twice in the regular season.

"Right now, it's hard for these kids to end with a loss," said Thelen. "But these kids will realize in time what a great season it was, especially since this tournament run was a bit unexpected."

Click for full box score. 

PHOTOS: (Top) East Lansing goalkeeper Blair Moore steps in front of a shot as Spring Lake's Ryan Zietlow attempts to deflect. (Middle) East Lansing's DeJuan Jones (2) heads the ball during Saturday's game. (Click to see more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)

Records May Not Show It - Yet - But Kingsley Soccer Improving, Ready to Rise

By Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com

October 21, 2022

Kingsley did not go on unnoticed this fall in Northwest Conference soccer play.

In fact, many took considerable notice of the Stags.

And, the coaches of the league’s top teams are looking for even bigger things ahead from Kingsley. Quite, frankly, they’re hoping it comes to fruition for their own teams’ sakes.

“It’s always beneficial to have a solid conference – as it helps teams prepare for playoffs,” said Rob Sirrine, coach of this year’s league title winner, Leland. “We expect them to improve in the next few years.

“Kingsley has had a rough go of it the last few years – not unlike other schools in our conference that also have football teams,” he continued. “I think they have some potential based on the coaches they have brought in and volunteers that are helping out the program.”

Second-year Kingsley head coach Tim VanWingerden welcomed Mike Alanson as a volunteer varsity assistant coach and two middle school coaches — Bert Baker and Lars Mitchell — this fall. Baker and Mitchell had kids on the Stags’ middle school squad this season. 

League opponents, including the varsity coaches, noted big differences already.

Buckley coach John Vermilya, whose Bears finished second this year after winning the crown a year ago, echoed Sirrine.

“Kingsley has shown incredible resilience over the last three seasons,” Vermilya said. “This season they bounced back with an influx of young players, and you can see their growing tactical awareness along with technical ability.”

Youth soccer is growing in the Kingsley community as well, adding to the excitement. In fact, VanWindergen has two boys —Ted, 10, and Gunnar, 9, playing in the youth program. Tabatha VanWingerden, wife of the Stags’ head coach, is the coach of the U-12 team.

This fall’s Kingsley soccer team. Mitch Miggenburg, Kingsley’s athletic director, is pleased to see the growth in numbers as the Stags move through “a 3-5 year” plan to become more competitive in soccer and cross country. He’s hoping those sports can find success similar to that of the Stags’ football team.

Kingsley is 6-2 on the gridiron and looking ahead to the football playoffs again. The Stags are fielding a full squad of cross country runners this fall after some lean years.

With an enrollment of well under 500, Kingsley has been able to involve 62 boys in football, 10 in cross country and 17 in soccer. Miggenburg noted cuts had to be made to the school’s co-ed middle school team this fall.

“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Miggenburg said. “If you look at our record, you might not see it.

“This is not something that is going to happen overnight,” he continued. “In order for us to develop the way we want to develop, we’ve got to put some time in outside the season. And we have some coaches willing to help and do that, and it will only benefit us in the future.”

The Stags have not won a game the last two seasons, but VanWingerden believes success, as defined by wins, is right around the corner. He knows his team has shown moments of brilliance in every contest before the goals mounted against the Stags.

VanWingerden and Kingsley have been praised for outstanding sportsmanship by referees, opposing players and coaches. 

Other bright spots in 2022 included outstanding play by freshman goalie Nate Lamie and stellar defense by senior captain Zakkeus Bedford. The Stags will have to overcome the loss of Bedford, their only senior this year, who played with tremendous drive and was the leader on the field.

But, they should return rest of the squad hungry for wins. And, they’ll add some solid incoming freshman players.

(Below) Zakkeus Bedford lines up a kick this fall.“I think next year is going to be a big turnaround,” VanWingerden predicted. “So the next two, three years, we’re going to start turning some heads.”

Despite not experiencing wins either of the last two seasons, the Stags have enjoyed playing soccer.

“There is a camaraderie there with these kids I just can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s part of what binds them better, facing that adversity on a regular basis and getting though it together as a team,” VanWingerden said. “They’ve come to practice the next day determined to work hard and try to improve little by little. 

“The common goal to get better pulls them together and gives them a determination that is hard to find.”

Many conference games this year were played 9 vs. 9 or 10 vs. 10 per conference agreement. Benzie Central and Glen Lake played with fewer than 11 players in every contest this season. Benzie Central, Glen Lake, Kingsley and Suttons Bay all compete in cross country, football and soccer. Leland and Buckley do not field football squads.

The Comets won a District championship 1-0 on Thursday at Suttons Bay. The Bears are playing in a District Final on Saturday in Lakeview. Kingsley’s 0-19 season ended with a Division 3 District-opening loss to Boyne City last week.

The Stags have already begun working on next year. Offseason plans include drop-in soccer and participation in a newly-developed strength and conditioning program.

“The program is not going to move forward unless we put in a ton of work,” VanWingerden acknowledged. “We’ve had glimpses into what we could be if we did it on a regular basis.

“It is really encouraging.”

Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Kingsley’s Rolando Torres works to gain possession against Traverse City Bulldogs’ Tyler Ritola (17), Jonathon Scott (27) and Syrus Ritola (19), as Josephine Arrowood officiates. (Middle) This fall’s Kingsley soccer team. (Below) Zakkeus Bedford lines up a kick this season. (Photos courtesy of the Kingsley athletic department.)