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District Soccer: Lakeview enjoys fast start to postseason with win over rival Bearcats

BATTLE CREEK - If you want to make a postseason run, it often starts with a first step.

Lakeview did more than that, as the Spartans got off to a running start with a one-sided win in the Michigan High School Athletic Association girls soccer districts, which opened across the state on Wednesday.

Lakeview defeated city-rival Battle Creek Central, 10-0, in a Division 1 first round district contest at Lakeview High School.

Lakeview players celebrate a goal by sophomore Shaelah Clark during a district game against Battle Creek Central at Lakeview High School on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
Lakeview players celebrate a goal by sophomore Shaelah Clark during a district game against Battle Creek Central at Lakeview High School on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

"We wanted to start the postseason strong, play hard, play tough and that's what we did today," said Lakeview's Danayah Williams. "From here on, no matter what the outcome, we just want to play hard. Today we showed great effort and great resilience and it gives us fuel for the next game."

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Lakeview (7-8-1) advances to face Loy Norrix (12-8) in the district semifinal at Portage Central High School on Tuesday. Battle Creek Central ends the season at 2-15.

Williams helped Lakeview get off to a fast start, scoring the first two goals of the game for the Spartans in the first five minutes of the contest.

Shaelah Clark also scored twice for Lakeview with Ava Horn adding two goals as well. The Spartans also received single tallies from Lilamae Frank, Jaiden Anderson, Eve Clark and Lauren Tkac.

"We were clicking tonight. We started fast and that momentum kinda built on itself. Then after that, we played a lot of players and everyone played well tonight," Lakeview coach Jason Little said. "Hopefully, we can use this game as some momentum and keep things going, get past the semifinals and reach the district finals."

Division 2

Harper Creek will open tourney play in its Division 2 district against Hastings in the first round at 5 p.m. Friday at Hastings High School. The winner will see the Middleville Thornapple vs. Otsego winner in a district semifinal on May 28 at Wayland. No. 3-ranked Gull Lake received a bye and will get the winner of Wayland vs. No. 7 Plainwell in the semifinals on May 28.

In a Division 2 district hosted by Mason, No. 14 Marshall received a bye and will play on May 28 as it awaits the winner of Sturgis vs. No. 15 St. Joseph. Coldwater is also involved in that district and defeated Charlotte, 5-0, on Wednesday. The Cardinals will face host Mason on May 28.

Division 4

The Calhoun Christian/St. Philip co-op girls soccer team will host Potterville in a district semifinal on May 29. Potterville advanced with an 8-0 win over Bronson on Wednesday.

Lacrosse Regionals

Lakeview kept its season alive with a win in its Division 2 regional semifinal contest on Wednesday. The Spartans edged East Lansing, 5-4, in a tourney game at Okemos High School. Spartan sophomore Brayden Fout had two goals with Luke Schuemann, Dieter Bloch and Ethan Genier each adding a goal.

Lakeview advances to face Forest Hills Eastern in the district final on Tuesday.

Forest Hills Eastern, the top seed in the region, defeated Harper Creek on Wednesday, 19-1.

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Girls Soccer: Lakeview enjoys fast start to districts with win