Troy Bethany gives Lutheran Northwest the boot
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY — Troy Bethany Christian is in the midst of upgrading its non-conference schedule in boys soccer. That has not deterred the Bruins from finding ways to win this season.
Bethany Christian paid host to defending MIAC Red Division champion Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest Tuesday and walked off the field with a fine 5-2 non-league triumph.
The Bruins, who moved to 8-1-0 on the young season, led 4-0 before the first half was even completed and took a 4-1 advantage into the break. Both teams traded off goals in the second half.
“I thought that this would be a tougher game. They are a lot bigger school than we are and they won their league last season,” offered Bethany Christian coach Phillip Fougere, whose school has around 100 students in grades 9-12. “We just came out and played well. We were finishing our chances.”
Senior forward Daniel Sprankle scored the first, third and fifth goals for Bethany Christian, which set numerous school records last season, including a 20-2-1 record en route to the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I state title. The Bruins have lost a league game in the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference Red Division in four years.
“We need to see some tougher games outside of our league. That’s why we have been trying to schedule some bigger schools, like schools from the (MIAC) and some other Division (3 or 4) teams,” continued Fougere. “Next year we hope to schedule some even tougher teams. I don’t care about wins and losses in out-of-conference games. I’m just trying to get us some tougher non-league games, some tougher opponents to prepare us for the state tournament.”
Northwest, which dipped to 1-2-1 on the season, found itself in a hole it could not climb out of against a quality team.
“It was just one of those days,” admitted fourth-year Lutheran Northwest coach Mike Miller. “They just kicked our butts from the get-go. They have a couple of good players who know what they are doing, guys that can finish. But when you’re down 4-1 at the half, it’s not easy coming back.”
Sprankle made it 1-0 in the 10th minute, finishing off a cross from junior Tim Trisan. Senior midfielder Tyler Parsons added to that lead in the 20th minute, this time finishing off junior Ryan Woodham’s pass.
Both Sprankle and Parsons scored a pair of unassisted goals to up the lead to 4-0 before senior midfielder Christian Woodfin tallied for Northwest just before the break.
Sprankle headed home a free kick from sophomore Josh Grono in the second half, while Joe Klausmeier capped the scoring for Northwest.
Since dropping a 2-0 game to Hudsonville Home School two weeks ago at the Rochester Hills Christian Tournament — Hudsonville is the defending West Michigan Home School Athletic Association state champions — the Bruins have picked up the pace with eight straight wins.
“We lost our best player (Travis Woodham, now at Oakland) from last year to graduation and a couple of other key guys,” said Fougere. “We had to have some other guys step up and we’re starting to see that.”
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy Bethany Christian
