What: This Saturday the Grand Haven high school girls varsity soccer team will face their cross town rival, the Spring Lake Lakers. For some of the players, this will be their biggest game of the season. The game will decide not only who is the better team in the tri-cities this year, but will also give the winning team bragging rights anytime the rivalry is brought up.

Where: The game will take place across the drawbridge at Spring Lake High School, on Saturday, April 15 at 11: 45 a.m. Not only is it set out to be a entertaining game to watch, but the weather will also be great with a forecast of 70 and sunny.

They said it: “We’ve been practicing just as hard as normal, but we definitely have a certain mentality when it comes to spring lake” senior outside midfielder Pixie Bitner said. “I think it’s because we are such close schools or because there are a lot of acquaintances between the teams. But I speak for everyone when I say there’s a little grudge against Spring Lake.”

Up next: The Grand Haven girls varsity looks forward to winning this rivalry game to improve their record to 1-0-2. They have tied both Reeths Puffer and Fruitport, and their game against Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central was cancelled due to weather. The next game for the bucs is on April 19th against the Hudsonville Eagles.

Game Recap

What happened: This past saturday the Grand Haven girls varsity soccer team traveled across the bridge to play against the rival Spring Lake Lakers. The Bucs had control in the first half of the game leading 1-0 at half with a goal from senior defensive midfielder Hannah Kenny. After two goals in the second half from freshman forward Alli Keyser, the Lakers decided to kick it into gear and score twice within the closing minutes of the game. The Bucs were able to hold off the Lakers from scoring a third goal and took home the win.

They said it: “Our mentality going into the game was to have composure,” Kenny said. “Coach Kram helps us to redirect our energy into the game rather than the rivalry. That’s what helped us hold our own in the game.”

Key player: Freshman Alli Keyser is the Bucs leading scorer this year, and proved to be just that Saturday afternoon. She carried the Bucs past the Lakers with two late goals in the second half. Her goals made sure that Spring Lake was not able to tie the game with the Bucs, leading them to their first win of the season.

Key moment: Kenny sprinted past a Spring Lake defender, and collided with their goalie in the goal box, sending the ball into the net after the goalie mishandled it. This was the Bucs first goal of the game and gained them momentum going into the second half.

Up next: The girls varsity team will travel to face the Hudsonville Eagles this upcoming Tuesday, April 19.