GRAND RAPIDS – Coming into Thursday, the Fruitport boys soccer team hadn’t lost in 11 games and hadn’t surrendered a goal in 10.

Now it’s 12 games without a loss and 11 games without an opposing goal.

That’s about as hot as a team can be, and a perfect way to head into a district championship game.

The high-flying Trojans kept rolling on Thursday with a 3-0 victory over rival Spring Lake in a Division 2 district semifinal game at Grand Rapids Northview High School.

Fruitport’s Grade Anspach tries to work the ball around a Spring Lake player. Photo/Adam Vander Kooy

Fruitport now moves on to Saturday’s district championship game against Northview at 2 p.m. on the Wildcats’ home field.

Northview advanced by beating Allendale in Thursday’s other semifinal game.

“It feels really good,” said Fruitport Coach Dan Hazekamp, whose team improved to 16-2-3 on the season. “I’m happy for my boys and my seniors. I’m happy for the school and our program. I think we earned it and we deserved it. We found a way, which has been the story of the team this year.”

The Trojans were in charge of the contest from the opening minutes on Thursday.

The Trojans celebrate a goal. Photo/Adam Vander Kooy

Just 2:30 into the game, senior Brady Brown found the back of the net off a corner kick when he ripped a shot from the middle of the box, giving Fruitport a 1-0 lead.

The Trojans went up 2-0 at the 34:27 mark when Isaac VanderMolen scored with an assist from Jorge Burgos-Yack.

“Jorge found me,” VanderMolen said. “It was just like we practice all the time. It’s really nice playing with him because he’s really techy and I’m more of just a big target.”

Hazekamp noted that VanderMolen, a junior, has matured on the field as the season has gone on.

Fruitport’s Braylon Marshall boots a corner kick. Photo/Adam Vander Kooy

“I’d say the biggest thing he’s matured in is his soccer IQ,” the coach said. “He’s embraced the role of being a back-to-net forward. He doesn’t foul as much and he’s physical, but under control. Nights like tonight it really benefits him.”

Just 38 seconds later, Burgos-Yack assisted on a goal by Taylen Acocks, which made the score 3-0 in favor of the Trojans.

“Our main thing is talking about unselfishness,” Hazekamp about Burgos-Yack, a talented scorer, contributing to the cause with two assists. “Jorge midway through the year really embraced it and ran away with it. He’s going to score goals and sometimes be the facilitator. He creates so many things for us, and tonight he was very disruptive in the middle, which led to scoring opportunities.”

The Fruitport bench cheers on the team. Photo/Adam Vander Kooy

In the second half, Fruitport had the only shot on goal and cruised to the win with goalkeeper Logan Werschem picking up another shutout.

Burgos-Yack, who is a sophomore playing in his first district championship game, admitted he will be nervous on Saturday, but loves the prospect of winning a trophy.

“It’s my first time,” he said. “I’m nervous already. I’m trying to win, and I’m pretty confident that we can. But I’m just really proud of this season.”eddie