Jonesville’s Charlie Spencer scored three goals and assisted another as the Comets cruised to a 5-0 win over Will Carleton Academy in the Division 4, District 57 boys soccer quarterfinal. The victory ended Will Carleton’s season and sent Jonesville into the semifinals against Hillsdale Academy.
Spencer’s hat trick was the centerpiece of a dominant offensive display. Landon Church and Corbin Grimm also found the net for Jonesville, while Spencer contributed an assist to round out his standout performance. Senior goalkeeper Kaleb Males kept a clean sheet and even took a turn outfield near the end of the match. Jonesville coach Jeff Dice praised the collective effort, saying, “It was about as good of a team effort as we’ve had all year.”
Jonesville will face Hillsdale Academy at Hayden Park on Tuesday, October 20, at 4:30 p.m. Hillsdale, ranked eighth in the state with a 12-3-2 record, has won six consecutive district titles and shut out Jonesville during an early September meeting. A win would mark Jonesville’s 10th of the season and their first appearance in the district championship game this decade.
“They set the standard in our district, they have for years,” Dice said of Hillsdale. “Coach Neal Brady does a phenomenal job of getting guys to play and play well.” Dice noted his team would need exceptional discipline and effort to challenge the Colts. He also confirmed that athletic director Jeff Turner will coach the team on Tuesday, as Dice is away on a previously scheduled trip. Turner stepped in earlier this season to guide Jonesville to a 2-1 win over Blissfield.
The loss ended a historic season for Will Carleton Academy. The Cougars finished 8-7-2, their first winning regular season since the program’s revival in 2023. They claimed both the Crossroads Athletic Conference regular-season championship and conference tournament title. Senior David Maier scored a hat trick in the 3-1 tournament final against Factoryville Christian and was named tournament MVP.
Maier reflected on the season’s significance beyond the wins. “They were like brothers to me, and it was a really good time out there, and I’m glad to have been able to play,” he said. Maier and fellow senior Theo Davis continued the work begun by their older brothers, Thomas Maier and Sam Davis, who helped bring soccer back to the school. Other seniors included Remington Bender-Brown, Western Watkins, Ben Draper, Aed Church, Davis Williams, and Castin Cousino.
Will Carleton coach Anthony Seiffert praised his team’s effort throughout the season. “Their commitment, their willingness to press hard, to leave everything on the field is really remarkable,” he said. The Cougars also have a young core to build around, with sophomore Wesley Charleville scoring 13 goals and freshman Adam Haidous adding 12 this season.
Maier urged the younger players to remember the season as a whole, not just the final defeat. “I just hope that people don’t look back on this season and only think of this game because it was really a heck of a season,” he said.
Elsewhere in District 57, Jackson Lumen Christi advanced with a 1-0 victory over Stockbridge and will face the winner of Thursday’s Leslie-Jackson Christian quarterfinal in a later semifinal on Tuesday.
According to Yahoo Sports.
