Lightning Ignites West Michigan Youth Soccer
By Coach Knight
Lead by an explosive attack and a devastating defense the Portage Lighting U-13 Girls team finished at the top of the West Michigan Youth Soccer Association’s Select division unbeaten and twice tied.
With one of most formidable strike partnerships in this age group at any level in Lesley “the blond bomber” Lurges and Michaela “the general” Pope, the Lightning buried the ball in the back of the net a remarkable 32 times in 8 league matches.
First year goalkeepers Morgan “the cat” Jusick and Kailee Tange recorded 5 shutouts in league play as the team was only scored upon 4 times. The goal differential of 28 pushed the team past the Red Arrow Soccer Club (+18) who sported the same record and into first place.
The Lightning played Red Arrow to a hard fought 0-0 draw earlier in the season while missing several key players and featuring a superb first half goalkeeping display by stalwart central defender Hannah “the enforcer” Nelson.
Overall the team played in two friendly matches against higher level clubs in Indiana to open the season, the Celery Cup in Portage, the Soccer Zone Labor Day Tournament also in Portage (which they won!), The Capital Classic in Lansing and a full WMYSA schedule. The team played 18 soccer matches in a 10 week period and finished with a record of 11 wins – 2 losses – 5 draws.
Both losses and one of the draws came against Premier level teams in the Capital Classic in Lansing including a tight 1-0 loss to perennial East side powerhouse Ann Arbor United. While United had quality across the park and clearly deserved their reputation, the Lightning might be considered unlucky to have lost the match on a dubious second half penalty kick while also having a goal of their own called back for a marginal offside call.
The team gathered for the first time in early August with nobody really knowing how it would develop as the season progressed. Clearly the team had a solid returning nucleus in Michaela, Lesley, Ashley Kirby, Morgan Jusick and Sylvia Knight all of whom had several seasons of competitive travel soccer behind them including terms playing at U-12 when they were a U-11 team and the immediate previous season playing U12 Elite.
This group was bolstered by Madeline Galer, Katelyn Moon, Haley Schroeder, Olivia Grennan, Kailee Tange & Sidney Fillar who had all spent the previous season playing together on another Lightning team.
Joining these 11 experienced players was former TKO veteran and powerful defender Claire Abdo, Laura Segraves who had impressed the coaches at tryouts with her blazing speed, Amanda Jackson who made the team despite playing up an age level, Jenna Beffel and Rebecca Townsend who were looking to take their game up a notch or two after splendid AYSO careers and the returning aforementioned Hannah who had spent a year playing professional soccer in China (okay maybe not). Hannah was well known to the club having previously played on this team at U-10 and U-11.
The team quickly adapted to “Vu Ball” and learned terms such as “body-body-ball” “play to feet” and “play the way you face”. The team was encouraged to respect the game of soccer and to understand why the rest of the world calls it “the beautiful game”. At the end of the season most observers would agree that the team was playing a very good quality brand of “football”. The girls practiced hard, played with passion, blended well, supported each other, listened and learned but most importantly had a ton of fun.
The team looks forward to a winter season of indoor play and some intense indoor training in preparation for a potential spring season up in the Elite division of WMYSA.
With one of most formidable strike partnerships in this age group at any level in Lesley “the blond bomber” Lurges and Michaela “the general” Pope, the Lightning buried the ball in the back of the net a remarkable 32 times in 8 league matches.
First year goalkeepers Morgan “the cat” Jusick and Kailee Tange recorded 5 shutouts in league play as the team was only scored upon 4 times. The goal differential of 28 pushed the team past the Red Arrow Soccer Club (+18) who sported the same record and into first place.
The Lightning played Red Arrow to a hard fought 0-0 draw earlier in the season while missing several key players and featuring a superb first half goalkeeping display by stalwart central defender Hannah “the enforcer” Nelson.
Overall the team played in two friendly matches against higher level clubs in Indiana to open the season, the Celery Cup in Portage, the Soccer Zone Labor Day Tournament also in Portage (which they won!), The Capital Classic in Lansing and a full WMYSA schedule. The team played 18 soccer matches in a 10 week period and finished with a record of 11 wins – 2 losses – 5 draws.
Both losses and one of the draws came against Premier level teams in the Capital Classic in Lansing including a tight 1-0 loss to perennial East side powerhouse Ann Arbor United. While United had quality across the park and clearly deserved their reputation, the Lightning might be considered unlucky to have lost the match on a dubious second half penalty kick while also having a goal of their own called back for a marginal offside call.
The team gathered for the first time in early August with nobody really knowing how it would develop as the season progressed. Clearly the team had a solid returning nucleus in Michaela, Lesley, Ashley Kirby, Morgan Jusick and Sylvia Knight all of whom had several seasons of competitive travel soccer behind them including terms playing at U-12 when they were a U-11 team and the immediate previous season playing U12 Elite.
This group was bolstered by Madeline Galer, Katelyn Moon, Haley Schroeder, Olivia Grennan, Kailee Tange & Sidney Fillar who had all spent the previous season playing together on another Lightning team.
Joining these 11 experienced players was former TKO veteran and powerful defender Claire Abdo, Laura Segraves who had impressed the coaches at tryouts with her blazing speed, Amanda Jackson who made the team despite playing up an age level, Jenna Beffel and Rebecca Townsend who were looking to take their game up a notch or two after splendid AYSO careers and the returning aforementioned Hannah who had spent a year playing professional soccer in China (okay maybe not). Hannah was well known to the club having previously played on this team at U-10 and U-11.
The team quickly adapted to “Vu Ball” and learned terms such as “body-body-ball” “play to feet” and “play the way you face”. The team was encouraged to respect the game of soccer and to understand why the rest of the world calls it “the beautiful game”. At the end of the season most observers would agree that the team was playing a very good quality brand of “football”. The girls practiced hard, played with passion, blended well, supported each other, listened and learned but most importantly had a ton of fun.
The team looks forward to a winter season of indoor play and some intense indoor training in preparation for a potential spring season up in the Elite division of WMYSA.