9 Grand Rapids-area teams capture 2023 girls soccer district championships

Forest Hills Northern's Auden Stauffer (9) skies for a jump ball over Forest Hills Central's Syd Ryan (14) at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Gretta Kriekard (15) heads the ball towards the goal at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Gigi Sinicrope (18) battles with Forest Hills Northern's Evie Brown (3) at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Ayla Mayton (7) flips into an overhead toss during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Auden Stauffer (9) attempts to knock in a ball deep in the goal zone in front of Forest Hills Central's Lara Butlevics (0) at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Haley Ward (7) squares off with Forest Hills Northern's Maiya Christmas (23) during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Dailey Tucker (24) races to the ball during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central hoists the trophy after beating Forest Hills Northern during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Dailey Tucker (24) fights for the ball with Forest Hills Northern's Vivien Enrico (27) during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Ayla Mayton (7) flips into an overhead toss during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Haley Ward (7) embraces teammate Dailey Tucker (24) after scoring the only goal of the game during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Cassidy Van Skiver (20) cools off with some water on her head during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Gigi Sinicrope (18), left, and Forest Hills Northern's Evie Brown (3), right, jump for a ball at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Abby Busch (4) runs down the line after her name is announced at the start of the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern reacts to their loss against Forest Hills Central during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Ayla Mayton (7) runs onto the field after her name is announced before the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Haley Ward (7) crosses up Forest Hills Northern's Ayla Mayton (7) at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central celebrates with the trophy after beating Forest Hills Northern during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Lara Butlevics (0) grabs a jump ball before Forest Hills Northern's Kayla Riley (16) could get to it at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

A host of Forest Hills athletes jump for a contested ball during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Lara Butlevics (0) kicks the ball at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Abby Cole (9) lines up for the national anthem at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Three athletes collide in a scrum for the ball during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Dailey Tucker (24) passes a header to her teammate over Forest Hills Northern's Anna Frost at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Tessa Grooters (8) sends an overhead pass in to her teammates during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's head coach Ashley Ludtke gets a yellow card during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's head coach Ashley Ludtke speaks to her team at halftime during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Ava Tyrell (12) defends against Forest Hills Northern's Vivien Enrico (27) at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Ayla Thompson (23) and Forest Hills Northern's Emma DeHaan (24) jump for a contested ball at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Auden Stauffer (9) heads the ball to her teammate against Forest Hills Central during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Lara Butlevics (0) scoops up a shot on goal at Forest Hills Northern during the district finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern prepares for their district finals match against Forest Hills Central at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Vivien Enrico (27) moves the ball upfield during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central celebrates their win over Forest Hills Northern during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Ayla Mayton (7) runs upfield during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central rehydrates with citrus during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Auden Stauffer (9) and Forest Hills Central's Lauren Coon (2) race to the ball during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Tessa Grooters (8) sends one towards the net from the corner during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Syd Ryan (14) looks upfield during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Auden Stauffer (9) and Anna Frost (6) jump for a ball in the goal zone of Forest Hills Central's Lara Butlevics (0) during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Josie Crosse (6) crosses up Forest Hills Northern's Jada Vyn (13) during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central prepares for their game against Forest Hills Northern in the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central's Josie Crosse (6) fights for the ball with Forest Hills Northern's Jada Vyn (13) during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Central hoists the trophy after beating Forest Hills Northern during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Vivien Enrico (27) heads a ball to her teammate during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern's Avery Sheldon (21) and Cassidy Van Skiver (20) pose for a photo after their loss to Forest Hills Central in the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

Forest Hills Northern students cheer for their team during the district finals at Forest Hills Northern on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Drew Travis | MLive.com)

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Hudsonville, Byron Center, Thornapple Kellogg, Forest Hills Central, East Grand Rapids, South Christian, Unity Christian, GR Catholic Central and Calvin Christian all continued their quest for a state soccer title by winning district championships this week.

That first piece of playoff hardware is a good start, but there are bigger things ahead, starting with next week’s regional semifinals.

Follow along to read more about the nine Grand Rapids-area teams that hoisted district championship trophies and what’s next for each.

Hudsonville

Hudsonville hoisted its third consecutive Division 1 district championship trophy Friday after a 3-0 win over West Ottawa, marking the second consecutive year the Eagles have topped the Panthers in the playoffs.

Maislin Joldersma gave Hudsonville a 1-0 lead in the game’s third minute, and the Eagles went up 2-0 in the 23rd minute when Yaarra Hefer-Zik netted a rebound off of a corner kick. Hudsonville junior midfielder and Grand Valley State commit Kendall Aikens added some insurance by converting a penalty kick with seven minutes left in the second half.

West Ottawa wrapped up its season at 11-9-2, while Hudsonville (16-2-2), the No. 4 team in Division 1, continues its playoff run in Tuesday’s 5:30 p.m. regional semifinal against regional host Byron Center (14-3-4).

Byron Center

Byron Center captured its second district title in three years by blanking Caledonia, 1-0, Friday at East Kentwood’s Pat Patterson Field.

Laiken Pettit headed in a ball off a textbook Jordan Kerns corner kick to the back post midway through the first half, and that was enough to lead the Bulldogs past the Fighting Scotts.

Up next for Byron Center (14-3-4) is Tuesday’s 5:30 p.m. regional semifinal against Hudsonville, who defeated the Bulldogs in last year’s district finals.

Thornapple Kellogg

The Trojans captured their first district title since 2018 with 1-0 win over Hamilton, with freshman Tealy Cross netting the game’s only goal.

After the rookie put her team on the board in the 25th minute, Thornapple Kellogg’s young back line of senior Anna Davis, freshmen defenders Ella Fischer and Natalie Borrink and freshman goalkeeper McKenna Hoebeke prevented Hamilton’s potent offense from finding the back of the net to preserver the Trojans’ sixth shutout of the season.

With its win, Thornapple Kellogg (15-4-1) advances to Wednesday’s 5 p.m. Division 2 regional semifinal at Vicksburg, where the Trojans will face No. 11 Plainwell (16-2-3), which defeated Stevensville Lakeshore, 3-0.

Forest Hills Central

In a rivalry showdown that saw the teams split their two games earlier in the season, Forest Hill Central pulled off a thrilling win over Forest Hills Northern, with Haley Ward scoring the game’s lone goal in the 76th minute to give the Rangers their fourth consecutive district championship.

Central (12-5-3) advances to face OK White foe East Grand Rapids in Tuesday’s 5 p.m. Division 2 regional semifinal at Cedar Springs.

Click here to see a photo gallery and read more from Central’s thrilling win.

East Grand Rapids

After tying GR Christian in a cold and rain-delayed regular season meeting back in April, EGR had little trouble finding the back of the net in the warmer weather, as the Pioneers pulled away for a 4-2 win to secure their third consecutive district championship.

Henny Maher, Avery Leete, Maggie Periard and Reece Lynn all scored goals against a GR Christian team that had shut out its first two opponents in the playoffs.

The fourth-ranked Pioneers (15-2-3) advance to Tuesday’s 5 p.m. regional semifinal at Cedar Springs, where they’ll face defending state champ and fourth-ranked Forest Hills Central in a rematch of the Rangers’ 4-1 regional win from 2022.

South Christian

A momentum-swinging sequence gave South Christian its first girls soccer district title since 2019, as the Sailors escaped upset-minded West Michigan Aviation Academy with a 2-0 win on Thursday.

South Christian’s Alexa Boersma put the Sailors on the board in the first five minutes, but WMAA appeared poised to tie the game with less than four minutes left, when the Aviators peppered South Christian with shots, only to see the Sailors goalkeeper and defenders keep the ball out of the net.

On the ensuing punt, Boersma got an open look and netted her second of the night to give South Christian some insurance.

Click here to read more from South Christian’s thrilling win over WMAA.

Unity Christian

The top-ranked Crusaders continued their quest for a second consecutive state finals appearance by pulling away from OK Blue foe Holland Christian, 4-0, on Friday at Unity Christian’s home field.

Ava Steen got things started in the 14th minute off a rebound that bounced out near the top of the box, and Olivia Bosworth punched home a rebound after a scrum in front of the goal line in the 35th minute.

Unity Christian’s Kaylin Kok added some insurance in the 65th minute, and Jordan Steen took a nice entry pass into the box and slotted a close-range shot under the goalkeeper’s hand with two seconds left in the game to give the Crusaders their third win over Holland Christian this season.

Unity Christian (17-1-2) advances to Tuesday’s 5 p.m. regional semifinal at Holland Christian, where they’ll meet Three Rivers (12-6-2).

GR Catholic Central

After upsetting second-ranked West Catholic with a 1-0 overtime win in the district semifinals, Catholic Central kept its playoff run alive with a 4-0 victory over Comstock Park on Thursday, giving the Cougars their third consecutive district title.

Mo Schneider scored twice, while Emma Meade and Maris Klein each scored one goal apiece.

The Cougars (11-7-2) advance to Tuesday’s 7 p.m. Division 3 regional semifinal at Holland Christian, where they’ll meet No. 4 South Christian (16-2-2) and will be looking to avenge two regular season losses to the Sailors.

Calvin Christian

The 13th-ranked and undefeated Squires secured their third district title in four years with a 3-1 win over No. 12 Saugatuck on Friday on the Trailblazers’ home field.

Calvin Christian scored twice in the first 15 minutes, before Saugatuck could get on the board with a Jenn Schock goal in the 68th minute to make it a 2-1 game.

But Calvin Christian added some insurance by netting another before time ran out on Saugatuck’s historic season, which saw the Trailblazers break the program record for wins in a season with 17.

Calvin Christian (17-0-3) advances to Tuesday’s 7 p.m. Division 4 regional semifinal at Portage Northern, where they’ll meet No. 7 Kalamazoo Christian (15-6).

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