Orchard View Battles Kent City to 1-1 Draw After Grueling Three-Game Week

August 29, 2026
The Nest, Inside Orchard View Athletics
Justin Troyer
Presented by: Brightway Insurance, Ethan Flores Agency

Muskegon, MI — Three games in five days. Three quality opponents. And a test of everything Orchard View boys soccer had been working toward.

By the time the Cardinals walked off the field Friday night, they had battled through a grueling stretch that included Coopersville on Monday, No. 9-ranked Holland Black River on Wednesday and Kent City on Friday.

The Cardinals finished the week 0-1-2, closing it with a 1-1 draw against Kent City — the same team that ended Orchard View’s season in the district tournament a year ago.

For Orchard View,  the result was about control, effort and refusing to let a demanding week dictate the way they played.

From the opening whistle, the Cardinals controlled the tempo and consistently applied pressure against Kent City. Orchard View created multiple opportunities throughout the match, but time after time, the Cardinals were unable to find the back of the net.

One of the best opportunities came in the second half when senior Wyatt Johnson stepped up for a set piece just outside the box. Johnson's attempt missed the mark, and moments later Kent City capitalized on a set piece of its own to take a 1-0 lead.

But the Cardinals didn't fold.

The pressure continued.

Orchard View kept pushing forward and eventually found the equalizer when Johnson took advantage of a Kent City goalkeeper misplay.

Johnson saw the mistake, controlled the ball and made sure it ended up in the back of the net.

“I seen the misplay the ball, and I wanted to do was control the ball and make sure it went in the goal.”

The goal gave the Cardinals the response they needed and kept them pushing for a winner.

With roughly two minutes remaining, junior Caleb Bennett nearly provided it.

Bennett struck a shot that found the post, narrowly missing what would have been the go-ahead goal.

While looking dangerous until the final whistle, The Cardinal couldn't find the deciding goal as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Despite the inability to finish several opportunities, Orchard View's coaching staff came away encouraged by what they saw.

Defensively, Orchard View delivered a strong performance, holding its line and refusing to allow Kent

City to generate quality scoring opportunities.

For Head Coach Chris Belasco, getting through three games in five days with a young roster and short bench was a challenge in itself.

“It’s big. We have a short bench and a young roster,” Belasco said about the draw. “We pulled two guys up from JV to get experience and help with the demand of three games.”

The compressed schedule also created a difficult balance between preparing for the next opponent and allowing players to recover.

“It’s tough when you have weeks like this, because you have to practice, but also find recovery opportunities,” Belasco said.

Still, the coach was pleased with how his team handled the challenge.

The Cardinals were able to maintain control of the ball, create opportunities and put themselves in position to win. The biggest missing piece was simply finding the back of the net more consistently.

And when Johnson did find the equalizer, Belasco pointed back to one of the team's fundamental principles — his “golden rule.”

Go to the ball.

Johnson did exactly that when the Kent City goalkeeper misplayed the ball, and the result was a goal that gave Orchard View a chance to earn a much needed win.  

The coaching staff's message throughout the week remained simple: attitude and effort matter.

When the Cardinals bring a great attitude and give great effort, the results will follow.

That was evident throughout a week that tested the Cardinals physically and mentally.

Orchard View may have finished the stretch without a win, but the Cardinals showed plenty of fight against three quality opponents — and Friday's draw against Kent City provided another sign of growth for a young team.

The Cardinals now turn their attention toward the next challenge, carrying with them the lessons from a week that demanded everything they had.

Cardinal Supporters: Poo Patrol Muskegon
#11 Wyatt Johnson, #2 Caleb Bennett