Conference tournament championship games have not been kind to the Fruitport girls soccer team.

Last year the Trojans battled NorthPointe Christian to a tie in regulation in the O-K Silver tournament title game, then lost after a long overtime shootout in a cold, pouring rain.

The two teams met again on Tuesday in this year’s title game, and again the Trojans came up short, falling 3-1 to state-ranked NorthPointe Christian in Grand Rapids.

Last year the loss was a little easier to take, because the Trojans had already beaten NorthPointe Christian in the regular season, and still won the overall conference title.

This year they lost to NorthPointe in the regular season, as well, so a win on Tuesday was necessary to gain a share of the overall championship.

Fruitport had to settle for second place with an 8-2 conference record. NorthPointe finished 10-0 in the O-K Silver and is 19-1 overall.

“I think everyone had that feeling after last year, when we beat them in the first game, and they won in that shootout in the tournament,” said Fruitport head coach Kyle Hall. “We thought this could be the same thing for us, and we could get them in the tournament.

“But overall it was a good game. Both teams played well.”

NorthPointe Christian took an early lead in the first half when a slow-rolling ball was misplayed by the Trojans and ended up in their goal.

Fruitport tied the game with about 10 minutes left in the first half when Peyhton Beardsley scored with a shot from about 25 yards out. It was only the fourth goal that NorthPointe has given up this season.

NorthPointe scored again with about four minutes left and led 2-1 at halftime.

Most of the second half passed without a goal, and Fruitport moved a defender up front to have an extra attacker with about four minutes left in regulation.

Unfortunately NorthPointe Christian took advantage and scored the final goal as the clock ran down.

It happened right after the Trojans had a goal kick in their own end, and booted the ball right to a NorthPointe player. With the extra attacker on offense, only three Fruitport defenders were left to react to the poor goal kick.

“We created a handful of chances in the second half, and we controlled a lot of the play, but it was one of those where we gave up a few tough goals,” Hall said.

The coach said it was necessary move a defender up and press for the tying goal, because time was running short and the Trojans needed a goal.

“If we don’t go for the win, what does it matter?” he said.

The loss was definitely not the end of the road for the Trojans, who are now 13-5 on the season.

They will begin Division 2 postseason play next week with a real chance to win a district championship and advance to regionals.

Fruitport is the No.1 seed in its district and earned a first round bye. The Trojans will play the winner of the Allendale-East Grand Rapids game in the semifinal round.

The Trojans lost in the district semifinals last year, when many of their top players were freshmen. With a year of experience under their belts, Hall thinks his team will be more than ready to battle for a district trophy.

“We just battled the No. 2 team in the state in Division 3, and were going for a tie with them, so I think that’s a good sign that on any given day, we will welcome the opportunity to play anybody,” the coach said.