FRUITPORT – Facing the state’s No. 1 ranked team, along with nearly 90-degree heat, nobody would have been stunned if the Fruitport girls soccer team had quietly ended the season with a shortened mercy rule loss on Tuesday.

But the Trojans stuck it out and lasted the full 80 minutes in a tough 8-1 loss against powerful Spring Lake in a Division 2 district semifinal matchup at home.

“It’s a testament to the girls,” said Fruitport coach Chris Belasco about his team’s effort. “It’s a credit to what we’ve been doing. A lot of it has been mental this year. This is a rivalry game for the girls, and they know how tough they are. I think we’re making the steps towards the better side of it, but it’s still a big step to climb up.”

Just 8:53 into the game, Spring Lake took a 1-0 lead when Clara Saunders knocked in a loose ball.

Fruitport Coach Chris Belasco addresses his team. Photo/Andrew Johnson

Just five minutes later Phoebe Ryan scored on a rebound to give Spring Lake a 2-0 lead.

That lead was extended when Ada Halvorsen scored on a long distance shot midway through the first half.

Just one minute later, Ella Andree took her turn finding the back of the net to make the Laker lead 4-0.

At that point the outcome really wasn’t in doubt, and a quick run to an eight-goal rout that would have ended the game early seemed entirely possible.

But the Trojans kept battling, refusing to end their season until the clock expired all the way.

Fruitport’s Alexa Hanson-Wilbur rips a shot. Photo/Andrew Johnson

Following a Spring Lake turnover, Fruitport junior Mallory Smith gathered the loose ball and dribbled in before ripping a shot to get the Trojans on the board with 14:30 left in the opening half.

Two minutes later Halvorsen scored her second goal of the night, extending the Laker advantage to 5-1.

Everyone expected that lead to grow with 10 minutes left in the first half when Spring Lake had a penalty kick, which is usually a pretty automatic goal.

But Fruitport’s junior goalkeeper, Riley Kettel, made a fantastic save on the kick, and the score remained 5-1 at halftime.

“It was great,” Belasco said about the save. “She stepped up big. It was a big save and to come down with it was really good. She’s had a tough season, facing the tough opponents we do, so it was a great save for her.”

Fruitport’s Lauren Riedel tries to work the ball around a Spring Lake defender. Photo/Andrew Johnson

In the second half, Spring Lake got goals from Lauren Cavalier, Andree, and Halvorsen, who capped off a hat-trick.

Fruitport ended its season with an 8-10-2 record, but the Trojans competed all the way to the end.

“That’s a tough team,” Belasco said about Spring Lake. “They’re number one for a reason, and they showed it today. But I think we dug deep and played tough overall.”

Seven Fruitport seniors played their final game.

“It’s a talented group,” Belasco said about the outgoing players. “Two of them are moving on to play more soccer, and they probably all could. But it’s a good leadership group and they brought tenacity and led in everything we did. It’s a bittersweet moment to see them go.”