Western Falls in District Final to No. 1 Gull Lake

Western High School soccer player Jeff Palmer (white uniform), battles Adam Boyle of Gull Lake during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 district final Wednesday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(October 20, 2022 10:15 AM) The disappointment was obvious after Western High School boys’ soccer team lost 1-0 in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 2 district final on Wednesday.

But the memories and history produced by the 2022 squad will live forever.

Western lost to No. 1 ranked Gull Lake 1-0 in the D-2 district final at Thornapple Kellogg.

Western finishes the season with an 18-1 and a boatload of records.

“It was a battle every minute,” Coach Scott Watterson said. “They came at us for 80 minutes.

“We couldn’t find a way to break them down.”

The first half was scoreless as each team had few chances to score. Gull Lake turned up the heat in the second half, scoring at the 28:15 mark. Ryker Corstange knocked the soccer ball past Western’s goalie for the only score of the game.

“Our back line was under pressure all night long,” Watterson said. “We gave up only eight goals all year long.”

Watterson said seniors Kellen Eva, Silas Falde, Wyatt Robinson, Peter Ganzel, Tommy Powell, and Cyrus Comfort will definitely be missed next season.

Western broke or tied a number of school records including:

Most consecutive wins: 18

Most wins in a season: 18 (tied 2019 season)

Fewest losses in a season: 1

Most goals scored in a season: 92

Most assists in a season: 82

Fewest goals allowed in a season: 8

Lowest goals against average: .42

Most shutouts in a season: 12 (tied)

I-8 Conference champions: First ever