The Varsity Eagle Boys Soccer team hosted the District semi-finals on Tuesday evening at Eagle Stadium. In the first semi-final, East Grand Rapids defeated Godwin Heights 1-0 to reach the finals. In the second match of the night, the Varsity Eagles took the field against Wyoming Kelloggsville for their shot at the District Finals.

The Eagles came out strong on the attack and scored early to take the lead. Senior Nick Cassiday slotted home the first goal of the match on a through pass from senior Hans Pruis in the 3rd minute. The Eagles doubled their tally just three minutes later when senior Ben Kuiper punched home a ball flicked on by junior Ian Velzen-Haner. With control of the match, the Eagles kept moving the ball and creating chances. Cassiday converted a free kick at the 24 minute mark, bending the ball around the wall of defenders into the far post. Just six minutes after this score, Pruis netted his first of the game on a pass from senior Ben Klein to up the margin to 4-0. Then with just 3-minutes remaining in the half, senior Ben Kuiper got his second of the night on an assist from sophomore Jackson Mindling, giving the Eagles a commanding 5-0 lead at the half.

Wyoming Kelloggsville came out battling in the 2nd half and scored on their only shot of the match, bending a ball into the upper corner of the Eagles net. The Eagles responded minutes later when Pruis neatly tucked away a cross from junior Aidan Knoester to bring the scoreline to 6-1. Pruis completed his hat-trick on the night in the 60th minute when Kuiper played a through ball in that put Pruis 1 vs 1 against the goalkeeper. The Eagles continued to control the ball throughout the remaining minutes of the match and earned a free kick with 4 minutes remaining. Senior Grant Hassenrik played a ball over the defensive wall that senior Grant Bishop flicked past the goalkeeper to score his first of the year and notch the final tally of the night. 

The 8-1 win puts the Eagles into the District Finals against East Grand Rapids on Thursday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm at Eagle Stadium.