CEDAR SPRINGS – The Spring Lake boys soccer team is no stranger to making it to regional play, but moving beyond that point in recent seasons has been a challenge, because the competition at that level is fierce.

The Lakers have won their district and advanced to regionals three out of the past four years, but have yet to capture a championship and move on to the state final four.

On Tuesday that trend continued when Spring Lake fell 5-1 to Grand Rapids Christian in a Division 2 regional semifinal game at Cedar Springs High School.

“We want to be here,” said Lakers head coach Jeremy Thelen. “We want to play against some of the best teams. Hopefully we’re building and building, and we’ll be back next year.”

Spring Lake’s Porter Saunders (13) prepares to pass to Keegan Fritsche (16).

“lt’s just how it goes. We’ve beaten them before, and did in 2011 on our way to the state finals. We just have to play our game.”

The Lakers finished the season with a 15-3-3 record, something to be marveled at after a 2-2-2 start.

That season turnaround will always be special to the 10 Spring Lake seniors who had their high school playing careers end on Tuesday, after winning the O-K Blue conference title and a Division 2 distict championship this season.

“This is a really special team,” said senior Keegan Fritsche about how tough it is to have the season end. “I thought we had a pretty good game today. I think we had a lot of chances but just didn’t finish them. It was a great season. This team was built up from our sophomore year. We just didn’t go out how we wanted to.”

While Fritsche is sad to see the season end, he’s proud of the legacy that he and his fellow seniors have left.

Spring Lake’s Jonathon Deal has a quick word with Coach Jeremy Thelen before tossing the ball into play.

“I hope we showed them how to work,” he said. “You have to grind to go as far as possible. I hope (future Spring Lake teams) take it even further than we did.”

Thelen is thankful for what the senior class has provided his program, and hopes the underclassmen on the team have learned from their example.

“Those 10 guys work their tails off,” said Thelen. “I just told them I really enjoyed working with them. They’ve taught the younger guys to play hard and have humility.”

In the first half on Tuesday, Grand Rapids Christian wasted no time, scoring just 3:20 into the game when senior Grant Hassenrik found the back of the net, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Ben Kuiper added a goal with 9:04 left in the first half, and GR Christian went to the break with a 2-0 lead.

Spring Lake attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, starting with 31:05 remaining when Fritsche sent Porter Saunders a beautiful pass in the middle of the box. Saunders took a few touches before rifling a shot into the back of the net, cutting the Laker deficit to 2-1.

Spring Lake’s Porter Saunders (13) prepares to pass to Keegan Fritsche (16).

The Lakers had multiple quality opportunities to tie the game after that, including a hard shot that was barely tipped over the crossbar by the Eagles’ goalkeeper with just 7:05 left.

Nick Cassiday of Grand Rapids Christian sealed the Laker’s fate with 6:27 remaining when he went along the left side of the box and fired a shot that found its way into the goal, giving the Eagles a 3-1 lead.

Cassiday scored again with an assist from Jonathan Clarkin with 4:03 remaining, before capping off a hat-trick with his third goal with 2:48 left in the game.

Spring Lake was outshot 10-7 on the night with goalkeeper Aidan Parker making five saves. Grand Rapids Christian goalkeeper Xander Scotfield made six saves.