Deer Lakes rallies past Mt. Pleasant to capture Section 2-2A boys soccer title

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 | 10:18 PM

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Colton Spence probably has been tackled and fouled in the box a lot harder in his budding soccer career, but he had never had a follow-up penalty kick that carried so much significance.

Spence, a sophomore from Deer Lakes, knocked in a PK to the left of reaching Mt. Pleasant goalkeeper Shane Piper with 1 minute, 28 seconds left Tuesday night to lift the No. 2 Lancers to a 2-1 Section 2-2A victory and their first section title since 2003.

The Lancers (13-0-1, 10-0-1) gathered strength and scored twice inside the final 13:05 to spoil senior night at Viking Stadium and stay unbeaten.

Spence doesn’t remember much from that 2003 season: it’s the year he was born.

“It’s a really big thing just to come on the road (and win) a section title,” said Spence, who has 13 goals this season. “We have really been working hard. We’ve been a family this whole time; I just have to thank them for everything that has happened. I think we were just more mentally prepared than (Mt. Pleasant).”

It was Deer Lakes’ second 2-1 win over the Vikings this season.

After a scoreless first half, Mt. Pleasant (9-4, 7-3) couldn’t hold a 1-0 advantage in what was another nip-and-tuck clash between teams that have grown into rivals.

Since the teams became section neighbors in 2016, Deer Lakes has won four of the six meetings.

Mt. Pleasant won both last year, 3-2 and 1-0 after a Deer Lakes sweep the previous season.

Deer Lakes coach Jordan Wiegand was a sophomore in high school in 2003, but he understands the momentous occasion for the program.

“Long, long time ago,” he said. “This group deserved it. We have been preparing for it. This is probably the most ready team we have ever put onto a field. It’s a dynamic that we all fight for each other; a wonderful family atmosphere.”

Deer Lakes, which has four, one-goal wins this season, outshot Mt. Pleasant, 18-6.

“You hate to see it come down to a (foul) like that,” Mt. Pleasant coach Floyd Snyder said. “They weren’t calling it real close up to that point so I was a little surprised to see that call, and it’s a shame it came down to that. But really, it came down to us, not that call. We had some chances that we should have finished on that would not have put us in that situation.”

Doug Swink finally broke a scoreless tie in the 58th minute when he took a deft cross-pass from Sam Napper from behind the net and scored past Jesse Greyshock. It was Swink’s first goal, and it gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead.

“That’s what Sam does,” Snyder said. “He’s been doing that for four years.”

Napper nearly made it 2-0 in the 65th minute but missed just wide with the net open.

Instead, Deer Lakes tied it with 13:04 to play as the Lancers finally got around Piper. After a scrum ensued in front of the net, Piper came forward just slightly and AJ Dorman saw an opening, tapping in the shot to make it 1-1.

“We had to dig down deep,” Wiegand said. “We’ve gotten ourselves in a situation like this against Freeport … now a tough road game, senior night against Mt. Pleasant, to rally back it just keeps building character. That is invaluable stuff that we’re going to use going towards the playoffs.”

Deer Lakes controlled possession in the first half and kept Piper — and his skyrocketing punts — alert and on his toes. The Lancers pelted the senior with 13 shots in the opening 40 minutes, but he was up for the task, corralling a few tight attempts and making a pair of diving stops while cradling the ball to keep the game scoreless.

Mt. Pleasant’s best chance in the first half came in the 36th minute on a point-blank shot by Napper from just inside the 10-yard line. But the ball hit Greyshock in the numbers and he pulled in the save.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Mt. Pleasant