Leland boys soccer's state title defense ended Thursday with a 1-0 loss to Muskegon Western Michigan Christian in an MHSAA D4 match at Cadillac.
“We are going to defend as our lives depend on it, and they put us in that situation tonight,” Leland coach Rob Sirrine said.
The Comets and Warriors battled to a first-half tie, but an early second-half push got WMC on the board for the only time.
Leland would have few and far opportunities throughout the game that were turned away by the Warrior defense each time
“I'm super proud of our guys. (WMC) is really, really good. I'd be surprised if it wasn’t them in the finals … hats off to them,” Sirrine said.
Leland junior goalie Edgar Hernandez Mosqueda stayed on his head all game, with at least 15 saves.
“I told him after the game, it was the best game I've ever seen him play,” Sirrine said.
WMC led the contest at the half in shots, 10-2, with the Warriors making several dangerous runs. The Comets had their fair share of opportunities but couldn’t keep the ball on goal.
The levy finally broke after the Warriors came out on fire in the second half, with five solid opportunities in the first five minutes.
Leland got its first chance seven minutes in, as the ball whizzed by the middle and nearly found Roman.
WMC found the back of the net as senior Braeden Hoffman scored off a centering pass to take a 1-0 lead with 32 minutes remaining.
“We play (Leland) every year in the regular season and most years in the tournament. We knew they'd bring it and they brought it today,” WMC coach Ben Buursma said. “They were all over us, and we couldn't get space to get our connections … happy to get that goal 10 minutes in and survive the wave of Leland's attack at the end.”
The Comets had a couple of chances at the end of the game, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Leland (15-6-1) finished its season as Northwest Conference and district champions for the fifth straight year.
WMC led the contest in shots compared to three from the Comets.
The Comets will graduate four seniors as Beckett DeFour, Jose Roman, Angie Gossett and Evan Keen play their final game in the Leland kit.
“I was talking to them about the leadership they provided over the course of the season and the role models that they are for all the younger guys coming out,” Sirrine said about the seniors. “We can't thank them enough, and we'll miss them next year, but the (underclassmen) set the stage; hopefully, we'll be back here again next year.”
