Leland boys soccer (12-8-2) captured its fourth district championship in a row with a 4-1 win over Glen Lake (17-14-1) behind a lethal offensive and a stifling defensive attack in an MHSAA Div. 4 tournament game hosted by Suttons Bay.
“This is my senior year and we are leaving everything out there,” Leland senior defender Eli Ulbrich said. “We are playing for the love of the game at this point.”
Leland advances to the regional semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Big Rapids against Saginaw Valley or Midland Cavalry.
The Comets defensive line held Suttons Bay to five shots and one corner kick on the night.
“We did it beautifully, we executed this game. We got a big goal this year of making it far in the playoffs, so we’re working one game at a time,” Ulbrich said.
Glen Lake controlled the first 10 minutes of the game before Leland slowly but surely gained a significant advantage in time of possession.
The Lakers and Comets would not connect on various scoring opportunities in the first half to go into the break 0-0.
Leland senior Adrian Spencer broke the scoring open for the Comets with a laser from 40-yards out (30:00) off his right foot for his fourth goal in the past two games.
Leland senior Weston Burda would stretch the Comet lead to 2-0 (20:00) after a Laker turnover in the box.
“We were doing really well offensively ... We just kept getting it down to their end and eventually scored,” Burda said.
Burda scored his second goal of the game to take a 3-0 lead with 16 minutes left. That is Burda’s third goal of the district tournament. Nearly scored a hat trick in the very next possession.
The Lakers wouldn’t go quietly as they mounted an offensive attack.
A Laker scoring opportunity was turned away by Leland senior goalie Ravello Smith to keep the shutout alive with 13 minutes remaining.
Eventually, the Lakers would break through from a curving shot by senior Hunter Cox with 10 minutes remaining (3-1). Cox almost scored again on the very next possession.
The Comets finished the game with a Nano Creamer penalty kick, forcing it to make it 4-1 as time was running out.
“We are hitting our stride at the right time,” Leland coach Rob Sirrine said. “Glen Lake didn’t quit.. They kept pushing and pushing, which is a testament to their program.”
Glen Lake had two yellow cards and one red card, while Leland earned a yellow card during the physical matchup.
Leland has not lost a district championship since Buckley defeated them in 2021.
The Lakers ended the season as co-Northwest Conference Champions for the first time in program history, sharing the title with Leland.
Glen Lake was led by seniors Ezra Belanger, Tanner Crick, Ben Selby, Brody Switzer, Eli Maule, Zeb Mackey and Hunter Cox.
“They kept fighting in this game, even down a man, coming back and getting one, showing that they still had the fight in them. I’m really proud of these boys for the way that they competed the whole time. They went at it for 80 minutes, and that’s all you can hope for,” Glen Lake coach Jared Boynton said. “(The seniors) have come so far. They’ve all grown, not just physically, but mentally ... They never gave up, and they gave a great fight out there.”
