By Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle and local reports

CEDAR SPRINGS  — This year’s Western Michigan Christian boys soccer team decided two years was long enough of a state finals drought.

The Warriors earned their fifth trip to the state finals in the last eight years, but first in the last three, with a hard-fought 1-0 Division 4 state semifinal win over familiar foe Bridgman Wednesday at Cedar Springs High School.

This may be the unlikeliest of all of those trips to the final game, which includes state titles in 2003, 2004 and 2007 and a runner-up finish in 2006.

“We’re not supposed to be here,” said Warriors’ coach David Hulings. “We graduated nine starters and 12 seniors off last year’s team and then we started with a tie to Orchard View this season. Making the state finals with this team is a credit to the hard work of this team and means a lot to the program.”

Hulings added that his team is not going to be just happy to make the finals.

The Warriors will shoot for another state title Saturday against Ann Arbor Greenhills (18-6-1), a 4-2 semifinal winner Wednesday night over Hamtramck Frontier International. The finals will be at 3 p.m. at East Kentwood, the closest the Division 4 finals have been to Muskegon in more than a decade.

In the first game at noon Saturday at East Kentwood, Grand Rapids South Christian  (24-2-1) will battle Lansing Catholic (20-2-1) for the Division 3 title. Divisions 1 and 2 will play in Troy Athens.

Western Michigan Christian improved to 21-2-1 by using the same recipe for success it’s employed all season — a solid possession game, hard work and a goal from Matt DeKryger.

The senior forward's goal 9:52 into the second half was all the Warriors needed to advance to the finals.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said DeKryger. “Getting to the finals just shows the kind of work ethic this team has. We’ve really worked hard as a group.”

The Warriors had similar looking plays to DeKryger’s game-winner earlier in the game, but couldn’t connect near the goal.

Freshman Chaise Schuiteman’s long throw-in found senior Collin Breit in the middle and Breit flicked the ball towards the middle of the goal box.

DeKryger picked up the pace and got to the ball in time to head it toward the goal and through the hands of Bridgman keeper Jackson Kamp.

A Bees defender appeared to clear the ball away in mid-air, but it was ruled the ball was over the goal line and DeKryger was rewarded with the goal.

“There were a couple of times when balls went in, but I didn’t step in fast enough,” explained DeKryger. “This time I knew I could get there and I thought I could get it past the goalie. I was pretty excited when it was ruled a goal.”

The goal was one of several quality opportunities for the Warriors in the second half.

WMC held possession for most of the game, but didn’t really take control until after halftime.

“I thought they outworked us in the first half,” said Hulings of the Bees. “I give (Bridgman coach) Woody Woolery a lot of credit for a great game plan and for having his kids ready to play.

“The possession we had in the first half wasn’t quality possession. I think we were too geeked-up about being here. At halftime I told the kids to just relax and play our game.”

The Warriors out shot the Bees 8-2.

Sophomore keeper Jacob Berens made two saves to get the shutout win, but a lot of credit went to defenders Tim den Dulk, Tim Schuitema, Joshua Binnendyk and Zach Meyers.

Meyers marked up Bridgman attacker Josh Bachleda and the defense blocked several shots out front to help preserve the win and the shutout.

“You have to be able to outwork Western Michigan Christian because they’re so good if you give them time with the ball,” said Woolery. “We did a good job of that in the first half, but we weren’t able to get any good shots on their keeper.”

The Warriors had the best of the offensive chances down the stretch as well.

Fittingly, Schuitema, who had to come out of the game to have his shoe taped together by WMC trainer Shelly Ward in the closing minutes, booted away the ball as time expired, putting the final touch on another trip to the finals for the Warriors.

The game Saturday is at an East Kentwood middle school. Directions later.