Lakecrest Baptist knocks out defending MACS-II champion Springfield Christian
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — Waterford Lakecrest Baptist didn’t need to score bunch of goals Friday at Clarkston Springfield Christian. The Defenders only had to convert a couple of times and live up to their namesake on the defensive end.
Lakecrest Baptist, just in its third season of soccer, upset host Springfield Christian, the two-time defending Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division II state champion, 2-1, to advance to the third round.
The Defenders will play at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Bridgeport Baptist against Saginaw Community Baptist for the right to advance to their first state final.
“We just couldn’t score,” admitted Springfield Christian coach James Day. “There has been a few games like that this season. We had a ton of chances, but we gave up two (counterattack) goals and couldn’t finish our opportunities.”
Despite playing on their heels for most of the game, Lakecrest Baptist used a counterattack goal in each half to upend the Eagles, then played some stingy defense on Springfield Christian (6-6-1)to pull the upset.
The duo of Adam Beaudry and Brandon Franklin combined for both of Lakecrest Baptist’s goals.
The first came with 10 minutes left in the first half when Franklin’s long pass was chased down Beaudry, and the sophomore finished of his breakaway fro 1 -0 lead.
MIDFIELD COLLISION: Waterford Lakecrest Baptist's Jesse Navarre (left) runs into Clarkston Springfield Christian's Luke Penley during a MACS Division II second-round game. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
The Eagles eventually tied the score with 25 minutes to go when senior Kyle Penley picked off a clearing pass and blasted home the short-range shot.
Springfield Christian continued to put pressure on the Defenders’ net but could not score again. Lakecrest Baptist scored the game winner with 16 minutes to go, when Beaudry cashed in another breakaway feed from Franklin, beat his mark in the corner, and slipped in the game winner to send the Defenders into unchartered territory.
Springfield Christian defeated Lakecrest in last year’s tournament opener, 8-0. This time the Eagles outshot the Defenders by a 15-7 margin but to no avail.
“We mercied them last year, but this was a different team. We lost (eight players) from our championship team,” offered Day, who graduated seven players plus lost another that transferred over to Auburn Hills Oakland Christian. “I just think they wanted it more than we did. We may have outshot them, but they went to ball harder and played hard the whole game.”
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Category: Clarkston Springfield Christian, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps
