Lapeer Lightning Cup

August 28, 2021

The Spartans didn’t just have to battle some of the best teams in the state on Saturday, August 28 at the 2021 Lightning Cup, hosted by Lapeer High School, but had to battle the weather as the Real Feel temperatures got up to a miserable 114 degrees. The Spartans did not disappoint and finished the tournament at 1-1-1. Coach Trent Heil said, “We knew that we were going to be facing some of the toughest teams in our division and had a great opportunity to showcase some of the talent on the west side of the state. The Spartans defeated Lapeer 3-0 in the morning session, tied Troy 2-2 in the afternoon, and ran out of gas in the afternoon heat falling to a very good Clarkston team. The Spartans are now 3-1-1 for the season and will play Kalamazoo Loy Norrix on Wednesday to open up SMAC Conference play.

Game 1 - Lakeview 3, Lapeer 0

The Spartans defeated the Lightning while controlling possession and controlling the ball on the offensive half of the field for the majority of the game. The Spartans scored first with a well timed run by Junior Wing Sang Sang receiving a ball into the box by Sophomore Andy Ignatovich. Sang received the ball and passed into the lower right corner.

In the second half, the Spartans warmed up with the weather and Junior Mathew Bacik continued his goal scoring streak of 3 straight games with another great strike from fellow Junior Striker Abram Thang. Thang soon got into the action, scoring on a header into the upper netting from a brilliant pass from Sophomore Defender Travis Neal.

The Lightning could only muster 3 shots on goal thanks to a stifling defense led by Senior Captains Andy Neal and Stephen JoPaul. All target shots were saved by Senior Goalkeeper Benny Ignatovich for his first shutout of the season.

Game 2 - Lakeview 2, Troy 2

The Spartans had a back and forth battle with the Colts of Troy ending the match in a 2-2 Tie. The Colts struck first scoring early in the first half. The Spartans, unfazed, answered the goal with a through ball from Abram Thang to Matt Bacik just inside the 18 yard box who hit a banger off the goal post into the back of the net.

After half the Colts were able to take advantage of a corner kick and placed a ball just off the reach of a diving goalie Benny Ignatovich to  make it 2-1. With time running out, the Spartans had a little bit of heroics, this time from Junior Midfielder Nain Mana who struck a 40 yard free kick just under the crossbar to knot the game up at 2-2 and the game finished with the same score.

Ignatovich finished the match with 7 saves.

Game 3 - Lakeview 0, Clarkston 5

The Clarkston Wolves proved to be too much to handle for the Spartans in the last leg of the Lapeer Lightning. The Wolves scored a goal late in the first half with a rocket of shot passed Ben Ignatovich. With the Spartans down by one goal at half the Wolves used their size to their advantage and connected on goals in their next two corner kick opportunities. The Spartans only had 5 shots on frame in the contest. Ignatovich had 5 saves and Abram Thang had 2 saves for the Spartans.