Grand Haven edges Troy 1-0 to advance to first state final
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
HOLT — Scoring chances in a tight game sometimes can be few and far between.
So when the rare opportunity came for Grand Haven’s Jacob VanderLaan, he made the most of it.
The Jacob VanderLaan knocked in a rebound only 29 seconds into the second half Wednesday, and the fifth-ranked Buccaneers’ defense made it stand in a 1-0 victory over sixth-ranked Troy in a Division 1 boys soccer state semifinal at Holt High School.
The win vaults Grand Haven (18-1-3) into the state finals for the first time in school history after the Buccaneers lost in the semifinal round twice in the 1990s. Troy finished the season with a 20-3-1 record, being shut out for only the second time all season.
STALLED OUT: Troy's David Eicher and the sixth-ranked Colts were shut out Wednesday for tonly the second time this season but it came in a 1-0 loss to Grand Haven in the Division 1 state semifinals. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
“Hats off to Grand Haven. They didn’t have a ton of chances but when the ball popped out they were able to capitalize on it,” offered Troy coach Brian Zawislak. “We just had a hard time finishing. A lot of times in a game like this, it’s one play that makes the difference.”
Troy goalkeeper Matt Smolinski made the initial save on Chad Buitenhuis’ shot, knocking the ball off the post, but VanderLaan was there to cash in the rebound.
Smolinski finished with seven saves in the loss, while Grand Haven’s Ethan Beswick notched the shutout on seven saves for the Buccaneers.
Both teams did have some chances in the second half. Grand Haven hit the cross bar twice in the same 10-second span midway through the half, while Troy’s desperate push for an equalizer included a shot that clanged off the crossbar with 15 seconds left in the contest.
Grand Haven will play second-ranked Plymouth Canton (23-1-2) for the D-1 state championship at East Kentwood Saturday at 3 p.m. Canton is going after its first state title since 1996.
Troy, which was making its fourth Final Four appearance in program history and first since the 2003 season, did have some chances throughout the course of the game, but was stymied throughout the contest. The only other team to blank the Colts this season was Rochester Adams, which posted a 2-0 victory over Troy in a game in mid-September, which knocked Troy from the top spot in the rankings.
“We had a bunch of ball go into the box, some corners and from free kicks, but (Grand Haven) did a nice job clearing the ball away,” said Zawislak. “Their goalie played a nice game. He seemed to be in the right place. It was just one of those nights for us.
“We had a nice run,” continued Zawislak. “We won the (OAA Red Division) for the third straight year, and we won district and regional championships. We accomplished a lot (this season), we just came up one game short of making the state finals. The boys are disappointed in the game, but not the season.”
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy
