Portage Central won Thursday’s intense showdown with Gull Lake 1-0, securing the top spot in the SMAC regular season standings for the second consecutive year. Both teams entered the evening at 8-0 within the 10-match league slate, meaning the winner would take first outright and hold the tiebreaker even if they both finished with the same record.
The Mustangs saw a clean sheet and nine saves unofficially from Kyle Toutanji, including a game-changing penalty kick stop in the 64th minute. Gull Lake took total shots 16-15 and shots on goal 9-6, with seven of their on target tries coming in the second half.
The lone goal came for Portage Central toward the end of the 34th minute. An excellent pass from midfield by all-state selection Mike Ketteman found its target in Nolan Jaros, who was able to fit the ball into the upper-near corner of the net for the lead.
The Blue Devils upped the pressure in a chippy second half, which included a lengthy stoppage in the 44th minute after two players were tangled up near midfield, leading to jawing from both sides. Gull Lake earned a free kick after it was all settled and came inches from scoring, but the Mustangs had a defender on the goal line to keep out a ball that bounced by Toutanji.
About four minutes later, the Blue Devils put the ball in the net, but saw their equalizer disallowed. Toutanji and Roni Sylejmani both went for the ball with the goalkeeper briefly securing it. It popped free to Sylejmani, but it was ruled he had fouled Toutanji to knock the ball loose.
In the 64th minute, a Portage Central foul set up a penalty kick for Nick Reed and another great opportunity for Gull Lake to tie the game. Reed aimed low and to his left, which Toutanji guessed correctly for the diving stop, ultimately preserving the clean sheet and victory.
The Mustangs improve to 12-3-1 overall and 9-0 in the SMAC with the win. They finish the regular season league slate Tuesday at Battle Creek Central, then will host a gold bracket tournament semifinal against either Mattawan or Portage Northern Thursday.
The Blue Devils drop to 11-3-1 and 8-1 in the SMAC. They conclude at home Tuesday against St. Joseph, followed by their own home semifinal match Thursday with either the Huskies or Wildcats.
Listen back to Thursday’s match here.