Leland boys soccer (14-8-2) scored the MHSAA Div. 4 regional championship game-winner with under 15 minutes left when the ball found the foot of Leland Senior Adrian Spencer, who floated over the North Muskegon’s goalkeepers head and into the back of the net.
“We were dominating. We knew (a goal) was coming. We just had to put it in,” Spencer said. “It feels like this has been a work in progress all year … We found our glue at the end of the season. We have to go all out every single game, the whole 80 minutes, and I feel like it's a good chance we will win.”
The Comets will move on to the state semifinals against Grandville Calvin Christian Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 6:00 p.m. hosted by East Kentwood.Leland lost to GRandville Christian in September 2-0.
Leland held on for the win despite a flurry of chances by the North Muskegon Norsemen.
The Comets' goalkeeper, senior Revello Smith, made a career highlight save with under 10 minutes left when a ball whistled to the right side of the net and Smith laid out to block the shot.
The Comets would fend off a few more chances thanks to the defensive line clearing the ball, earning its first regional championship since 2023.
“We reviewed, we practiced, and we watched the film. Our team has this mantra ‘I'm for you and you’re for me, we are for us,’” Leland senior Eli Ulbrich said. “We're going to live in this moment, but we're looking forward to the semifinals.”
Leland and North Muskegon battled to a tie in the first half with no clear advantage for either team.
The Comets had four scoring chances compared to North Muskegon’s two.
The second half was a different story as Leland controlled the time of possession for most of the rest of the game, along with several scoring opportunities that didn’t go in until Spencer found the back of the net.
Leland avenged a regional semifinal loss last year. The Comets were once again led by a stifling defense that didn’t allow a goal in the regional tournament.
Leland defeated Saginaw Valley Lutheran 1-0 Tuesday in the regional semifinal.
“We told them beforehand, we're going to play our game, we're going to step up and get out on the front foot. And that's exactly what we did from the get-go, finally,” Leland coach Rob Sirrine said. “This team, over the course of the season, just gelled, and they trusted the process.
We had the hardest schedule we've ever had.”
