Eagles Fall to Western 5-0 on Senior Night

Lakeland girls soccer coach Curt Whitefield has never felt as good about a five-goal loss as he did Thursday night. 

It wasn’t too surprising that the Eagles came up short against Walled Lake Western during Senior Night in White Lake. The Warriors (11-1-2) are one of the top teams in the area having lost just one game this year, to defending Class A runner-up Northville. 

But for large periods of the game Thursday, the Eagles (7-7-2) outplayed Western. That was particularly noticeable in the first 25 minutes of the second half when Lakeland had numerous chances in the Western end and probably should have been awarded for a penalty kick on a foul in the box that wasn’t called. 

“When we’re moving in space like that, we can beat just about anyone,” Whitefield said after the game. “The difference tonight was they have two tremendous players that can score goals and really finish and are two of the best offensive players around.” 

The two Western players are Jenny Shaba, who scored three goals and is headed to Grand Valley State on a soccer scholarship next year; and Rachel Good who had the other two goals. Good is also playing soccer on scholarship out of state. 

Shaba and Good scored a few minutes apart within the game’s first 10 minutes. Lakeland goalie Rachel Gilmore, though, made eight saves in the first 40 minutes to keep the Eagles within striking distance.

After Lakeland’s seniors: Lauren Dawson, Kaela Fyffe, Jessica Klave, Laura Austin, Kristine Graham and Jillian Parsons were honored at halftime, Whitefield told his team to believe in themselves. That translated onto the field. 

Morgan Kroezen nearly scored off a set piece when her free kick 10 minutes into the second half from around 25 yards out hit the goal post and Western somehow was able to clear the rebound from a mad scramble in front of the net. Minutes later Megan Kalanik executed a perfect crossing pass to Dawson who just missed tapping it into the goal on the back post. Later Julianna Corvell made an aggressive run that nearly resulted in a goal. 

But Western withstood the barrage. Good scored her second goal with 15 minutes left and Shaba scored twice more as Whitefield emptied his bench, the second on a brilliant strike from a nearly impossible angle. 

Afterward Lakeland midfielder Lexe Walker said her team will have to convert more of those scoring chances if they want to advance out of district play. 

“We also need to shoot more at the net,” Walker said. “You miss every shot that you don’t take and we need to take more of them at times.” 

Yet the second half pressure did give Walker and her teammates some confidence heading into a crossover game with Howell next week. After that the Eagles will open district play against Waterford Mott, a team that beat Lakeland 5-3 earlier this year in a game where Walker injured her knee. The second time Lakeland played the Corsairs it ended in a 2-2 tie with Mott scoring in the waning minutes. 

“We also need to come out strong in the first half because at times it seems we start slow,” Walker said. “Once we get motivated we can play with anyone.” 

Lakeland though has suffered through a number of injuries this season, including to seniors Graham and Parsons who haven’t played all season. The team is comprised largely of juniors which bodes well for next season. But Whitefield feels that his seniors have set the bar for a possible district run this season, and for a bright future. 

“As a class my seniors have never complained and have been great leaders,” Whitefield said. “I really feel good about what we can accomplish yet this season.”