PORTAGE, MI –– Sunday scaries, Monday blues or Mondayitis –– no matter the term, the struggle to start each week has been real for Gull Lake girls soccer and Jeff Corstange over the last couple years. But after this Monday? Consider that habit broken. With a supercharged level of energy and effort, Gull Lake managed to squash its old ways by setting the tone early and riding a big wave of confidence en route to a huge 1-0 upset road victory over rival Portage Central in a state-ranked, heavyweight showdown on Monday. The Blue Devils’ “case of the Mondays” is no longer. “Ever since I’ve been coaching, we’ve always had a case of the Mondays … but it’s about time we didn’t,” said Corstange, in his second season back as Gull Lake’s girls soccer coach. “We needed to break that habit because you never know what’s going to come in the postseason. They had a big team sleepover this weekend and they just came out guns a blazing tonight to set the tone early. “That was probably the best we’ve played all season.” In what’s been one of the most competitive and high-level Southwest Michigan soccer rivalries of late, Monday provided more proof. Both teams entered the contest ranked in top 10 –– Portage Central (8-2-0) ranked sixth in Division 1, while Gull Lake (10-1-1) sat at fourth in Division 2. “These girls know each other, they play club with each other but when it’s game time, it’s go time for us and them,” Corstange said. “It’s so much fun to be a part of and it pushes us to be better being a small school.” With the wind at its backs, Gull Lake brought the heat early and took early control, remaining on the front foot throughout the first half. The Blue Devils found success using their speed, especially in the attacking third. Eventually, it paid off. Sophomore forward Tessa Cothron received a pass in space down the left wing, allowing her to jet down the endline and setup a lane to cross. Cothron’s ball slotted through to forward Ali Bates, and the junior calmly finished things off with a far-post shot that found bottom right netting –– just over a minute before halftime. “We keep telling Ali to be patient, and it will come,” Corstange said. “When she’s going 110 miles an hour, the goals don’t always come. But when you settle down, it wil come and that happened tonight. She was patient and had a huge smile on her face when she scored. “But to get that goal in the last two minutes there was huge for our confidence.” Bates’ goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Blue Devils entered halftime charged up and rode the momentum into the second half thanks to some stout defense. Junior goalkeeper Bella Carr led that charge, coming clutch with a pair of diving saves –– a key ingredient to Gull Lake’s hot start this season, Corstange said. “She just gets it, and she knows what’s best for her and the team,” Corstange said. “If anyone makes a mistake, she’s going to let you know about it.” Mistakes were few and far between for Gull Lake on Monday, as not only did the Blue Devils win their third straight game –– it was their third straight shutout, too. The vibes at Gull Lake are riding high right now. “It’s just huge for us and us tying Byron Center, fighting and battling with them, gave us confidence and then tonight, I think it just pushed us over (the top),” Corstange said. “I talk about the ladder with the girls and climbing it during the season … you don’t want to be at the top of the ladder in the beginning of the season, you want to be there at the end. We’re going to fall and get back up, but I told them tonight that we went up two or three steps on this ladder. I think these girls have the utmost confidence in themselves right now and that’s huge to have at this time of the season.” With still weeks left until the postseason, Gull Lake has its sights set on peaking at the right time. The Blue Devils start just one senior, relying on a mostly young lineup. But it’s a group Corstange says can compete with the best of them. “I think we can compete with anybody in the state,” Corstange said. “Even though we are young, a lot of these girls that’ve come back know how high school soccer is played. They’ve gained so much confidence from last year, and you can tell on the field … they can win every time they step on that field.” Portage Central visits Portage Northern on Wednesday, while Gull Lake hosts St. Joseph.