Midseason form already? Sentinels boys soccer plays half-dozen games in last week
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MARQUETTE -- The Marquette Senior High School boys soccer team might already feel like it's in midseason form after a busy start to the season over the past week.
With Labor Day still more than a week away, the Sentinels played six games in the past week with three more scheduled before the early September holiday.
Five games were played at the Boyne Mountain Invitational in Boyne City last Friday and Saturday. Despite just a single win and one tie in those contests, the game that was the victory might've been a big surprise, coming against two-time MHSAA Division 2 champion Warren De La Salle Collegiate.
Then Marquette took a shorter trip to Kingsford and added a win there on Tuesday to now stand at 2-3-1.
"The Boyne tournament was a great test for our team," Sentinels head coach Charlie Hill said in an email detailing the results. "We were able to play against some tough competition to start the season and we came away with the confidence that we can compete with the top teams in the state.
"Our defense and goalkeeping have been outstanding. Unfortunately, we lost senior forward and captain Charlie Hrodey to injury during our first game, but are hopeful to have him back with us later this season.
"The rest of the team has stepped up, though, and it was good to see some more offense created during our game against Kingsford.
"We will continue to work on refining our team play."
The Sentinels play the Flivvers again along with downstate Ortonville Brandon on Saturday at home starting at 11 a.m.
Here are details from each game already played:
Marquette 2, De La Salle 1
On Friday at Boyne City, the Sentinels opened their season with a big challenge playing the powerhouse Pilots.
But MSHS goalkeeper Carter Tonella stopped a penalty kick early on to set the tone. Just a few minutes after that, Marquette sophomore Ty Sadler scored on his own penalty kick after teammate Finn Stiles was fouled in the box.
Before halftime, Sentinels senior Oscar Hill made a well-placed free kick into the penalty area that after a few teammates tried to knock the ball into the net but were blocked, Marquette junior Henry Blaksmith corralled the ball in heavy traffic and successfully hit it in to make it 2-0.
De La Salle got one back in the second half.
Marquette 0, Flint Powers 0
Later Friday at Boyne City, the Sentinels faced another Division 3 powerhouse in Flint Powers Catholic and played a hard-fought battle without anyone scoring
Marquette senior Collin Murray, center, wins the race to the ball to turn possession back to the Sentinels' midfield in Marquette's opening game of the season played against Warren De La Salle Collegiate at the Boyne Mountain Invitational in Boyne Falls on last Friday. (Photo courtesy MSHS Committee for High School Soccer)
Forest Hills 1, Marquette 0
To start Saturday in Boyne City, yet another state powerhouse in Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central made life difficult on Marquette's offense. The Rangers were last year's No. 1-ranked team in Division 2.
Hudsonville 2, Marquette 0
Right after the first game Saturday, the Sentinels returned to the field, and with a number of starters getting some rest for the middle game of three to be played that day, MSHS again was unable to generate any scoring despite getting some looks at the net.
Romeo 1, Marquette 0
In the final game Saturday at Boyne City, the Sentinels were able to get back to their ball-possession game and create some quality scoring chances. But Romeo, a top-five team in Division 1 in 2025, kept MSHS off the board again and got a goal in the second half.
Marquette 4, Kingsford 1
On Tuesday in Kingsford, Sadler got the Sentinels on the board first near the midpoint of the first half with senior Seth Sandstrom assisting.
Marquette almost conceded the tying goal in the dying seconds before halftime, but the Flivvers' chance on a breakaway went wide.
MSHS then seemed to come out hungry to start the second half, scoring three times in the first 10 minutes.
Sadler was fouled in the penalty area and scored on a penalty kick, then Sandstrom scored on an assist from Liam Hewitt, while Sadler completed his hat trick with Marquette's final goal as Sandstrom assisted again for his third point of the day.
Kingsford averted the shutout in the final minute with a goal.
Story contents based on AN email received from MSHS Committee for High School Soccer representative Jim Hewitt. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.