Jet's Pizza Team of the Month: Lansing Eastern Boys Soccer
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 23, 2026
The Lansing Eastern boys soccer team made program history this season, earning its first league championship on the pitch.
The Quakers went on to finish the regular season ranked No. 3 in the Division 2 state coaches poll, and they advanced to Thursday's Division 2 District Final at DeWitt before seeing their fall come to an end with a 1-0 loss to the host Panthers.
To commemorate its September accomplishment, Eastern was named the inaugural "Team of the Month" sponsored by Jet's Pizza. The Quakers clinched the Capital Area Activities Conference Red title with a Sept. 22 win over St. Johns, and two weeks later went on to win the CAAC Gold Cup with a 2-1 shootout victory over Okemos, which finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in Division 1.
Eastern finished this fall 17-2-3, only two years removed from ending 2024 at 4-12-1.
(Photo courtesy of the Lansing Eastern boys soccer program.)
Be the Referee: Soccer Changes
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
September 22, 2026
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Soccer Changes - Listen
New this year in high school soccer, goalkeepers will have more time available to them before having to release the ball.
Now – once a keeper establishes possession of the ball – they will have eight seconds before having to play the ball. Previously, keepers had six seconds before having to release it.
The penalty for failing to release the ball in time is also changing.
A goalkeeper who is whistled for hanging on to the ball for longer than eight seconds will now see the opponent awarded a corner kick. The old rule awarded an indirect free kick.
So remember – starting this year – keepers get up to eight seconds before having to release the ball, and failure to do so will result in a corner kick for the opposing team.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Sept: 15: Dead Ball Penalty - Listen
Sept. 8: Libero Ejected - Listen
Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen