In Defense: Tiny Springfield Christian seeking third straight MACS soccer title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — It’s been a numbers game at Clarkston Springfield Christian in recent times. With an enrollment drop during the past decade, the Eagles have not had the pool of athletes it once enjoyed in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.
A little more than a decade ago, the Eagles had nearly 125 high school students. That number had dropped to under 40 in the past five school years. Yet Springfield Christian has still found a way to field some pretty competitive teams in the sport of boys soccer.
In fact, the Eagles are the No. 2 seed in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division II state tournament and will continue their title defense this Friday at 4 p.m., with a second-round home game against nearby Waterford Lakecrest Baptist. Springfield Christian has won the past two MACS-II state titles, including in 2009 when the Eagles entered the postseason with a losing record.
Before the back-to-back crowns in 2009 and 2010, Springfield’s last title came back in 1987. The Eagles also captured MACS state crowns in 1982, 1983 and 1984, and that was all as a MACS-I school.
“We have been competitive against other smaller schools. Our losses are generally to schools that are bigger than us,” offered Springfield Christian coach James Day. “I think we’ll be all right. Two years ago it wasn’t really expected. Last year looking at the schools in our division and all of the seniors we had, I thought that we had a very good chance to win.”
This season the Eagles have only suited up 13 players. The team lost eight total players from its roster of last year, when they defeated Lake Orion Baptist 6-2 in the state title match.
“We have a few more boys in the school, but some of them only play basketball,” said Day, who graduated seven players from last season and lost another that transferred out of state. “But we have just about everybody else out for the team.”
The squad includes some eighth graders, eligible under the national sub-100 student rule, to help complete a roster.
Springfield Christian finished the regular season with a 6-5-0 record. The Eagles went 4-0-0 to win the FBAC Blue Division league title, the school’s first league crown since 2000, when it won the FBAC Red Division. One team in the Eagles’ league dropped soccer this season, so the school lost two games from its schedule.
TAKING OFF: Clarkston Springfield Christian's Isiah Peter is one of the reasons why the Eagles hope to soar to their third straight Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division II state title. File Photo | Dan Stickradt
With several new players and other different roles, senior Kyle Penley and freshman Isiah Peter have stepped up to lead the team.
Penley, one of three seniors on the roster, was the team’s top marking back the past two years but has spent time in the midfield and playing up top at forward to take advantage of his instincts and speed. He has a team-best 14 goals this season. Peter is anchoring the defense from his sweeper position.
“Kyle I thought was one of the best marking backs in all of MACS last year. This year I’ve had to move him around because we lost all of those guys,” offered Day. “We had seven seniors total last year and five of them started regularly. I had to move guys around this year.
“Isiah is just a natural soccer player,” added Day. “He has great touch, is very quick, understands the game and can read the play. He has a lot of experience playing the game. He’s one of the best freshmen that I’ve coached.”
Senior Kyle Rutland is the starting goalkeeper and senior Steven Moses helps fill in the midfield. Junior Brian Penley has also been a strong contributer on defense, along with junior newcomer Austin Mason, who transferred over from West Bloomfield.
While Springfield has five losses — four of those are to MACS-I schools or non-MACS schools — the Eagles did lose once to Adrian Berean Baptist at a tournament at the beginning of the year. The Bobcats are the No. 1-seeded team in this year’s MACS-II tournament.
“I would love a chance to play them again,” said Day. “We wouldn’t see them unless we both get to the final. We’ll just worry about who we play next.”
If Springfield Christian wins Friday, the Eagles will play in the third round at a site and time to be determined next week against the winner of the Bridgeport Baptist-Saginaw Community Baptist contest, which is also being played Friday.
“I think we have a good shot. We’re not as deep as we were last season, but we’ve done well against other teams our size,” added Day. “We’re looking forward to the tournament.”
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