Varsity Eagles capture their 4th State Title with 3-0 win over Mason

The Boys Varsity Soccer team had a tough road to the state finals, taking on the #4, #3 and #1 ranked teams in Division 2, but came into Saturday’s Championship Match ready to face-off against the Mason Bulldogs. 

The Eagles entered the match 17-5-2 while the Bulldogs came in with a 13-2-5 record. The first half of the match saw the Eagles create 7 shots, testing the Mason goalkeeper, while the Bulldogs were held to only 3 attempts by the Eagle defense. The Eagles' best chance occurred when Freshman Liam Jansen shook free and struck a left-footed shot that nearly snuck in the upper corner, but was pushed away by the Mason goalkeeper. The teams went into the half 0-0.  

With 40-minutes remaining in the season, the Eagles showed the resolve of champions, bringing more energy to press the Bulldogs in the 2nd half. Just minutes into the half, Senior Jackson Mindling laced a shot from 20-yards out that the Mason goalkeeper couldn’t hold cleanly. Junior John Cassiday pounced on the loose ball, spun away from the goalkeeper and fired the  ball into the upper corner of the net go give the Eagles a 1-goal advantage. The Eagles wasted no time in finding a second goal when Mindling blew past two defenders on the right side of the goal and saw Cassiday making a hard run. Mindling slotted the ball across the face of goal where Cassiday emphatically put the ball in the net, doubling the Eagles’ lead. With a 2-goal advantage, the Eagles looked to move the ball quickly and keep things locked down in the back. Senior Goalkeeper Christian Dershem was called upon to cut out a high bouncing ball in the box midway through the half, but the defensive line of Carter Goodyke, Andrew Schepel and Soren White kept most of the Mason attacks at a distance, forcing Mason to take shots from 20-yards out or more. With the clock under 10-minutes, Jansen used his foot skills to beat several Mason defenders before being taken down in the box, earning the Eagles a penalty kick. Cassiday stepped up to convert, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead and completing his State Finals hat-trick. 

The Eagles managed to close out the final 5-minutes of the match for a 3-0 shutout win in the State Finals for the fourth state title in program history. Six players from the 2023 team were part of the 2021 Championship team. Their leadership throughout the season and the postseason run was instrumental. 

The Grand Rapids Christian community should be proud of this group of young men, not just for what they have accomplished on the field, but for the amazing ways they represent GRCHS on and off the field with hard work, dedication and good sportsmanship. 

Congratulations to the 2023 Michigan Division 2 Boys Soccer State Champion Eagles!!

See video recaps of the State Championship Boys Soccer Match here!