MUSKEGON — Whitehall's defensive unit has been outstanding all season, and it shone again Saturday morning as the Vikings held off a late charge from Hart to secure a 2-1 win and the program's first district championship since 2015.
Whitehall entered the game having allowed multiple goals only twice since Black River's five-goal outburst against the Vikings in the season opener, so when the top seed put in a goal less than five minutes into the game and added another one later in the half, the indicators looked good.
Greyson Konecny got the scoring started, firing a well-placed shot into the corner after receiving a centering pass. Whitehall (10-7) continued to attack throughout much of the first half, and was rewarded when Samuel Chona's shot deflected off a Hart defender and made it to the back of the net with 16:09 left before the half, giving the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
"That had to be essential," Whitehall coach Dillon McCarthy said. "If it goes a different way, this beautiful game can do that sometimes. I think outcomes could shift. We don't play great from behind. We've learned that throughout the season, so we've been very intentional at trying to put ourselves in the best position on the field to get one in early and build that confidence and go on from there. Scoring super early was an awesome feeling."
However, soccer coaches always refer to 2-0 as the most dangerous lead in the sport; it's big enough that a team might play a little more relaxed, and yet one goal by the opposition and suddenly you're hanging on for dear life. McCarthy, though, was mentally prepared for the scrappy Pirates, who like Whitehall are piloted by an impressive group of young players, to get one on the board. When Hart did so just a couple minutes into the second half, McCarthy was stressed, but not surprised.
Whitehall's Carter Burrous goes down while pursuing a loose ball as Hart's Anthony Parra (7) and Agustin Hernandez look on during Saturday's district final at Oakridge.
"I was anticipating them to score, so when they did, it was a good challenge for our defense to step up and fix those little things and hold on, because that's essentially what it became," McCarthy said. "Whether that's the ideal tactic or not, a 2-1 win is a 2-1 win, so we'll take it.
"We're looking forward to good battles with Hart for the next few years, because (they've) got an extremely young group and my group is pretty young across the board."
That goal, by Hart's Agustin Hernandez, only barely made it in, and did so after Viking keeper Ethan Sylvester deflected a high shot - just not quite enough to change its direction. The Pirates nearly netted an equalizer later in the half, but fate smiled on Whitehall as the ball glanced off the far post and stayed in play.
Sylvester took over as keeper this year after Alex Winczewski, who played the bulk of last season at the position, elected to run cross-country instead. The five goals against Black River marked an inauspicious start, but Sylvester's numbers since speak for themselves - 13 goals allowed in his last 16 games.
The junior keeper said he's put in a lot of work to deliver those numbers, but was also quick to credit his four-man back line - senior Chandler Culp, sophomores Mason Kotecki and Easton Robbins, and freshman Jaxon Rawdon - with helping him out. Sophomore Ray Hesse, recently back from an injury that cost him time this season, has bolstered that defensive unit even further.
"I know my back line has put in so much work," Sylvester said. "I'm so thankful that I had this opportunity to play with them...I just love those boys. We all put in so much work at practice. I work with these guys at practice, and I'm so proud."
Sylvester has shown a willingness, even an eagerness, to leave his feet to make a play if necessary, and it's a feeling he said he loves despite the pressure involved.
Whitehall's Samuel Chona gets by Hart's Liam Larios-Mendez during Saturday's district final at Oakridge. Chona scored the Vikings' second goal in a 2-1 win.
"It's nervous, but it's also exciting," Sylvester said. "I personally like the feel of diving through the air. It's almost like flying. It's like a drop in your stomach, and then it's the most exciting thing and the most nerve-wracking thing at the same time. "
Another player whose contributions shouldn't be understated is senior Swiss army knife Carter Burrous. The team's leading returning scorer entering this season, Burrous has played several different places on the field, which has forced his numbers to take a step back. However, it's clear the team has benefited.
"I can put him as a center attacking forward," McCarthy said. "I can put him as a holding mid. I can put him as a right back. I can put him as a left winger. He's a utility player. His score sheet doesn't show it. He didn't score as many goals as he did as a junior, but as a junior, he was able to play just the striker position. He's the heart and soul. He's adapted, and he's absorbing a lot of that pressure as a senior leader, as is Chandler, and they really deserve this."
The Vikings' next task is a battle against Kent City. Originally set to take place in Clare, the Tuesday regional semifinal will now be at Holton.
The weekend was for celebrating, particularly for Culp and Burrous, whom McCarthy said, perhaps in jest, would be temporarily trusted with the trophy in recognition of their seniority.
"They can take that trophy home tonight and tuck it in and keep it until I need it back," McCarthy smiled.
