SUTTONS BAY - Western Michigan Christian boys soccer coach David Hulings preached to his players about the importance of a fast start on Friday night in the Division 4 regional championship game.

What he didn’t expect was to see his team’s first rush down the field result in a goal just seven seconds into the game against the host Suttons Bay Norsemen.

The Warriors (20-2-1) will face the winner of today’s regional title game between Bridgman and Grand Rapids Potters House. That semifinal game is next Wednesday at either Cedar Springs or Holton.

“We knew we had to start fast,” said Hulings, whose team advanced to next Wednesday’s state semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Suttons Bay. “They have one of the better attacks and that quick goal put them on their heels.”

Junior Matt Wisen converted on the goal after seniors Collin Breit and Matt DeKryger worked the ball through the Norseman defense.

“We always try to start fast,” DeKryger said. “That has worked well for us.”

Following that goal, Suttons Bay mounted some attack in the offensive end on some flighted balls and several corner kicks, but could not produce a tying goal.

With 17 minutes remaining in the first half, Wisen returned the favor by setting up DeKryger on a goal. DeKryger cut loose from 18 yards out and beat Norsemen goalkeeper Jared Orban.

WMC had other scoring chances in the first half, one coming off a Ryan Briggs shot that ran off the goal post and another when Breit and DeKryger worked the ball in tight with 1:40 left in the half.

The Warriors came out strong in the second half and that hard work was rewarded less than four minutes in when Wisen set up Breit on a shot from 14 yards out. That goal capped the scoring, but not the scoring chances for the Warriors.

Suttons Bay’s best scoring chance came with 3:45 remaining when junior Mason Darling fired a shot from the left side that a diving Jacob Berens deflected over the net.

“We knew their seniors were coming to play,” Hulings said. Suttons Bay’s roster includes 12 seniors. “Our defense did a great job against their attack. The defense really stepped up.”

“Josh Binnendyk had a phenomenal game,” DeKryger said. “And Tim (Schuitema) and Tim (denDulk) too.”

Hulings also praised the work of sophomore Alec Breit in the middle. "He stopped them from distributing the ball," the coach said.

WMC had a 21-3 advantage in shots. Berens had three saves in the WMC net.