The JV Warriors soccer team was back in action after a week of practice as they hosted the Pioneers of East Grand Rapids on Monday evening.  WMC was able to find the back of the net multiple times and walk away with a 4-0 victory over a high quality program.  

    The game flowed back and forth for the first 6 minutes until WMC was awarded a corner kick.  Levi Postema (So, Muskegon) played the corner in and Luke Proctor (Fr, Grand Haven) flicked the ball towards goal where one of our three exchange students, Paco (So, Barcelona) was able to blast it into the back of the net to break the deadlock and put the Warriors up 1-0.  Then 2 minutes later, Postema added a tally of his own as he received a pass from Noah VanWoerkom (Fr, Muskegon), then proceeded to scoop past a defender, then scoop again past the Pioneer keeper and slide it into the back of the net for a quick 2-0 lead with 25 minutes left in the 1st half.

    The score remained the same until halftime as the Pioneers increased their pressure and worked to try to find a way through the Warrior defense but were unsuccessful as the organized high defensive line of WMC caused EGR's forwards to be offsides on multiple occasions.

    The second half continued in much of the same way until the Warriors connected on a great build-up which finished with a 1-2 give and go between fellow exchange students Ramon (So, Barcelona) and Paco.  Paco sent a laser was able to draw a penalty in the center of the field, 25 yards from goal.  He was then able to convert on the free kick with a laser in the lower corner which skipped past the outstretched EGR keeper and put the Warriors in a comfortable 3-0 lead with 22 minutes remaining in the game.  Paco was able to complete his hat trick on his first game as a Warrior when he drew a penalty in the center of the field, 25 yards from goal.  He was then able to convert on the free kick with a powerful shot which slipped through the keepers hands and into the back of the net.  This finished the scoring at 4-0.

    The Warriors outshot the Pioneers 8-4 and Dan Minasian (So, Fremont) kept the clean sheet by making 4 saves as well as many clearances on through balls from EGR.  Warriors are now 1-1-1 on the season.  They will be off for the rest of the week and return to action next Tuesday (9/6) as they host Manistee at 5pm.

    "The boys have been improving in practice for the past couple of weeks and our awareness and touch is getting better.  The best thing is that they are all giving their best effort and working hard in the game and at practice.  I am glad to see this effort translating in games as they continue to find success against difficult competition." Said Coach Luke DeJonge.  "It was exciting to see our exchange students on the field and contributing, this school program provides a great opportunity for both the international students and the rest of the student body as they share experiences and culture.  At one point in time towards the end of the game, there were multiple players having long discussions in Spanish because we have multiple players who have been in Spanish Immersion throughout their education in our feeder schools.  I look forward to seeing the team grow and improve this season."