FRUITPORT- It may be a new year for the Fruitport girls soccer team, but there are plenty of familiar faces on the roster.

Fruitport boasts a deep group of upperclassmen who are full of experience, which the Trojans plan on using as they rebound from a mediocre 2022 campaign with all eyes on a big prize – an O-K Blue Conference trophy.

Winning a league title won’t be easy in a conference filled with great teams like defending champion Hudsonville Unity Christian, Hamilton, Spring Lake and Grand Rapids West Catholic – but the Trojans aren’t scared.

“We’ve done the work the past couple years,” said Fruitport Coach Chris Belasco. “This senior class has played together for quite a while. We’re optimistic for the season.”

Fruitport’s Alexa Hanson-Wilbur boots the ball toward the Allendale zone.

The Trojans got off to a good start in conference play on Wednesday with an exciting 4-3 victory over Allendale on their home field.

Fruitport improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the league. The Trojans have been very impressive in their early season hot streak, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 20-4.

“We can absolutely hang with this conference,” Belasco said. “If we can clean up our mental mistakes, we can put some things together.”

One big star on Wednesday was junior goalie Riley Kettel, who was super sharp in the first half, making 12 saves and keeping the Falcons off the scoreboard.

Goalkeeper Riley Kettel kicks the ball out of the Fruitport zone. 

Kettel, who finished the game with 19 saves, gave her teammates the breathing room they needed to build a lead and hang on to the victory in the second half.

“Riley is a very strong keeper,” Belasco said. “She made tons of saves. Even last year when we played Allendale she really needed to step up, and she did.”

Despite Allendale’s constant offensive pressure, Fruitport was able to get out to a 1-0 lead on the back of an Emerson VerMerris goal with 26:34 remaining in the first half, and that score held up until halftime.

The second half turned into an offensive shootout for both squads.

Fruitport’s Jorja Blackmer (21) battles hard for the ball.

The Trojans opened up the half with two goals within the first six minutes, from Courtney Mayette and Mallory Smith, to push their lead to 3-0.

Halle Steele finally put Allendale on the scoreboard with a goal about 15 minutes into the second half. Fruitport answered with a tally by Alexa Hanson-Wilbur to pull ahead 4-1, then Steele scored again with 9:37 to make it a 4-2 game.

Joslin Rood scored Allendale’s final goal with 55 seconds remaining, but the Falcons could not get an equalizer.

After the tough victory, Kettel said she feels confident about the rest of the season, despite the brutal conference competition that lies ahead.

“We’re definitely going to be improved from last year,” the goalkeeper said. “It’s going to be difficult competition, but we got it.”