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your mind on the game. It’s also nice to get instruction from players who have accomplished so much. You know what they are telling you is good information.”

The clinics, which doubled as fundraisers for the U.S. Women’s National Team, focused on several different aspects of the game, including passing, stick handling, defensive rotation, shooting and conditioning.

In addition, the Detroit area clinics included instruction from U.S. Women’s National Team goalie Devon Wills.

“It’s great to be out here teaching and promoting our sport,” Wills said. “Lacrosse is spreading like a wildfire around this country, and it’s fun to be on the forefront of it. Playing the game is lots of fun, but we take a lot of satisfaction in going around the country and teaching girls our skills and helping them discover this great game.”

The goalie also said that she was impressed with the Michigan players.

“You know, the East Coast has been the lacrosse hotbed for such a long time, but I am really kind of awed by what we have been seeing in the Midwest, Michigan in particular. It really seems like a lot of the players are ahead of the curve for their ages. Maybe there will be a player from this group to make it to the national team someday.”

Other national team players who made the trip to Pontiac included Kelly Munroe, Lindsey Lewis and Lindsey Gilbride.

A Cure for the Cold: U.S. Lacrosse instructional clinics in Pontiac featured players from men’s and women’s U.S. National TeamsBy Erik WEstfall and CalEB VEddEr

Anyone that plays lacrosse knows it isn’t a game that can be learned overnight.

Good instruction and lots of practice can help first time players improve their skills.

To help grow the game, U.S. Lacrosse, along with the United States Men’s and Women’s National Teams held a series of clinics over a weekend in January to help teach the game to young players.

Held at Pontiac’s Ultimate Soccer complex, the boys’ event was the fourth event held across the country by the U.S. Men’s National Team. The first three took place in November in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Texas.

The clinics were held for the boys on Saturday and both girls and coaches’ clinics were held on Sunday. The groupings were divided by age, with the morning session being for kids in grades three through eight and the afternoon session being for teens in grades nine through twelve.

Coaching the boys sessions were Christian Cook and Michael Levin from the U.S. Men’s National Team. Cook hoped that the kids learned a little bit about lacrosse and got excited about the sport.

“Something we try to do as coaches is talk a little bit about our experiences and what we’ve gotten out of it, friends and experiences,” said Cook. “Hopefully [we can] get them excited about their studies and about lacrosse.”

Cook and Levin put the kids through a number of drills ranging from quick breaks to keep away drills. Both coaches interacted with the players, giving advice and teaching them in an active way and engaging them in discussions before and after each drill.

Connor Ward, 12, of Clarkston had a great time at the clinic but also learned to “spread out and not bunch in when you’re on defense.”

Cook also talked about the positive influence the game has had on his life. He attributed the fact that he attended Princeton University to playing lacrosse and considered himself fortunate for the friendships he has made over the years of playing and coaching the game.

“I think these clinics are really just to expand the game and provide good coaching for kids who are outside the typical hotbeds,” said Cook. “I’m from Colorado so I appreciate it a lot because I know what it’s like to have coaches come out and teach you the game. Michigan is similar to Colorado in that outside the usual hotbeds, there are a lot of great kids.”

At the end of their sessions, Cook and Levin held a trivia contest and gave out hats, shirts and lacrosse sticks. After both sessions, the players took the time to personally sign posters for the participants.

Girls Get in the act, tooThe following day, despite freezing cold temperatures outside,

things heated up insideUltimate Soccer in Pontiac for the girl’s clinic.Female players from all over the Metro Detroit area braved the

falling snow to participate in two clinics conducted by the U.S. Women’s National Team.

The morning clinic was aimed at players in grades 3-8, while the afternoon clinic focused on players in grades 9-12.

“I don’t think people realize how big of a deal this is,” clinic coordinator Elaine Torvinen said. “We have some of the best lacrosse players in the world out here teaching. To have this come to our area is really a thrill.”

Both clinics had excellent turnouts, and the participants were happy with the way the clinics were conducted.

“I feel like I learned a lot,” said Marcy Crawford, 11, from Utica. “I just started playing lacrosse last year, so I know I have a lot to learn about the game. But it’s fun to learn from ladies who play on the national team. It gives you a way to set your goals high.”

Another player who enjoyed the clinic was Hilary Kramer. Kramer, 13, who will start high school at Troy Athens next year, hopes to play on the school’s lacrosse team. She said she thought the clinic really helped her development.

“I think it’s important to go to clinics and camps like this in the off-season,” she said. “They really help you keep in shape and keep

U.S. Lacrosse hosted instructional clinics in January that featured members of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams.

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April 25 - Womens Varsity • April 26 - Boys JV and May 16-17 Boys Middle School

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Friday: Girls 3rd/4th 6v6 Showcase, Girls 5th/6th and 7th/8th Grade Teams

saturday: Boys 7th/8th Grade Teamssunday: Boys 3rd/4th and 5th/6th Grades

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The nexT issue of Michigan Lacrosse hiTs The sTands on apriL 27, 2009. pLease check ouT

MichiganLacrosseonLine.coM for disTribuTion siTes!

College RepoRt- Michigan schools plan jump to varsity status- Men’s college reports (p. 13)- Women’s college reports (p. 14)

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opINIoN- You’ve heard it before: the prep landscape is changing By greg Normand

12

6 Be ouR guest - Anthony Kelly’s drills to help you improve your shot

WaRRIoR HIgH sCHool RepoRt

- Girls’ team reports - Boy’s team reports (p. 9)

8

inside_04.06.09STAFFEditor-in-Chief....................................................Philip D. Colvin

Advertising ..............................................................Lucia Zuzga ...........................................................................Philip D. Colvin ........................................................................... Lauren Kovacs Design Editor/Cover Design .............................. Chuck Stevens

Distribution Program ...............................................Lucia Zuzga

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Controller .......................................................... David J. Klavon

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Circulation: 5,000 - 8,000 copies with estimated readership of 15,000-18,000 per issue

Contributing Writers: John Raffel, Susannah Nichols, Terry Jacoby, Carl Chimenti, Ryan Doherty, Courtney Welch, Greg Normand, Jamie Munro, David Mitchell, Larry O’Connor

Photographers: Tom Turrill, Dave Reginek, Brian Dudek, Michael Knoll, Mike Ruccolo

LETTERS TO THE EDITORMICHIGAN LACROSSE® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer’s full home address and day and evening telephone numbers.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN LACROSSE®, 23995 freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, farmington Hills, MI 48335. ©2004 by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN LACROSSE or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN LACROSSE.

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Cover photo: Grosse Pointe South vs. Flint Powers original action photo by Eric Hollerbach/Grosse Pointe South Lacrosse this page (from top): Michigan’s Alexis Pavle attacks the Michigan State net courtesy Michigan Women’s Lacrosse; Anthony Kelly works on his shot and Flint Powers’ Allyson Fritts by Michael Knoll/Michigan Lacrosse

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9Be our guesT

Get Better

Knee shootinGTake a knee with your right leg down and your left leg up. While

doing this, point your left toe directly towards the goal. Keep your body tall while doing this. Now, load the stick “up and back” behind your body. Remember to keep your arms “up and away” from your body, far enough that you can drop a basketball between your hands and your body. Begin shooting. When shooting on your knee, it will force you to really use your core, and it allows you take a deep load.

Knee shooting will also identify immediately the shooter’s bad habits, and this is a good drill to work on correcting them. Players will fade away and miss the cage, or often times, they will pull the ball to the far side. Also, players that don’t use their whole body and are relying on their upper body only, will miss the cage on the short side.

Focus on shooting for power, not accuracy during this one. Just aim for the middle of the goal until you get comfortable. This is a great drill to improve your off hand.

t-shootinGNext stand with your body perpendicular to the cage. Now, turn

your left toe so that it’s pointing directly towards the goal, keeping your right foot perpendicular.

Your feet should look like the letter T, but make sure to keep them shoulder width apart. Load the balls, and begin shooting them, without moving your feet. You can move your back foot after you shoot, but try to keep your front foot stationary.

Shooting this way will force you to continue to use your core, that is imperative, but it is also allows you to use our legs to generate more power. Remember to try to drive your hips and thighs up and towards the goal as you shoot. Also, remember to focus on that deep load and point your elbow to your target.

reGular shootinGContinue to stand perpendicular to the goal, and shoot normally.

Focus on each of the things that you felt while working on the previous drills. Combine the feelings from all of them, and continue to shoot. Work first for power, and then begin focusing on accuracy.

catch and shootHave a friend throw a ball to you - catch, load, and shoot it. Work

on catching the ball away from your body, as you are moving towards the cage, and releasing the ball quickly.

Work on a “crow hop” to begin your movement. By moving towards the cage and catching the ball deep, you have already begun your load and this will allow you to catch and shoot very quickly. The faster you can get your shot off, the better off you will be.

practice your shotContinue to work on these things to improve your shooting. I would

recommend shooting at least 100 balls, both right and left handed on your knees as well as the T-shooting on a regular basis. You will see an unbelievable improvement in your game as a player.

The most important and difficult thing for a player is learning how to shoot on the run. You can never practice shooting on the run enough! But, it’s also imperative that you learn proper shooting technique standing still before we can master shooting on the run.

Keep practicing and working hard, and good things will happen!

ShooTiNg driLLS, iNcLUdiNg KNee ShooTiNg, T-ShooTiNg aNd caTch aNd ShooT are aLL good WayS

To WorK oN aNd iMprove yoUr ShoT ThiS SeaSoN

ANTHONY KELLY

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9 Grosse Pointe North starts the season with lots of firepowerWith lots of offensive firepower, a solid defense and a topnotch

goalkeeper, Grosse Pointe North has the talent to make a long run in the state playoffs.

“We will definitely be able to score goals, but will we be able to prevent them?” said North coach Bill Seaman. “I’m always optimistic because we have a solid group of players and veterans.”

Seniors Alexa Lucchese, Alexa Quinlan and Adriana Badalamenti, along with junior Molly Youngblood, lead the way. Other standouts are Mackenzie Seaman, Sarah Hawkins and Lindsey Jara. The Lady Norsemen include seven players from last year’s prosperous 9-2 JV squad, including sophomore starting goaltender Katie Case, who is also one of the state’s top hockey players.

Senior Anna Veitch is the only one returning in the GPN backfield.

“Anna is a very effective stick checker,” said Seaman.The Lady Norsemen opened their season with wins over Flushing

13-4 and Farmington 9-8.“We were on top of things against Flushing and played very well

at both ends of the field,” Seaman said.With the score tied 8-8 against Farmington, Lucchese scored the

game-winning goal with only 25 seconds left. Lucchese finished with four goals, while Badalamenti had three and Quinlan had two.

In the Flushing contest, Quinlan had five goals and two assists, while Badalamenti had three goals and two assists and Seaman had three goals and one assist. Hawkins and Jara also tallied in the victory.

The Lady Norseman will have a big test against Cranbrook-Kingswood on April 7.

“We will know where we stand among the top teams in the state after that game,” said Seaman.

MarianThe Mustangs’ offense is expected to take another step forward

this season and might have to carry a revamped defense early in the year.

The young squad, consisting of one freshman, four sophomores, nine juniors and four seniors, has a very inexperienced backfield after losing top defender Kate Hoffman to graduation.

“I’ve got a whole new defense and this is my second year of a new offense because I lost all my offensive players two years ago,” Marian coach Ginny Heth said. “If everyone starts growing into their positions nicely, we should be very good.”

Marian is coming off an undefeated regular season last year but lost to Birmingham Unified in the playoffs.

The Mustangs play in the tough Catholic League and have a difficult schedule, but they still expect to contend.

“Our expectations are to win,” said Heth. “We should be really solid this year if we learn the little things like passing and controlling the ball.”

The Mustangs’ captains Julie Hemphill (junior attack), Nicole Turner (senior attack), and Julie Adamo and Katie Obee (senior midfielders) led their team to a season opening win against Notre Dame Prep.

south lyonThe Lions want to get back to the state championship and get

the job done.South Lyon’s only loss last season came in the state title game to

Birmingham Unified, and the team returns most of their top players from last year’s lineup including three-time leading scorer senior midfielder Kelsey Kaminsky, senior midfielder Rachel Curmi, and junior midfielder Ashley Glenn. All three are leading scorers for the Lions through two games this season.

Glenn is an integral part of South Lyon’s success based on her ability to inspire players around her.

“She is a very well rounded individual,” coach Deanna Radcliffe said. “She always tries to help out her teammates, during practice or after. She is constantly working on her skills outside of the season.”

South Lyon lost many of their defenders to graduation and that’s where senior veterans Sarah Greene and junior Hannah Gorman

will help out.“They are the most experienced defenders on the team,” Radcliffe

said.The Lions won their two opening games against Hartland and

Milford, but face a tough pair of games against Brighton April 14 and Marian April 17.

Flint poWers

The reigning Division 2 state-champion Chargers are back strong with an impressive majority of last year’s lineup.

Most of the girls who played an important role in Flint Powers’ comeback victory over three-time defending champion Sacred Heart last season have returned, including senior goalie Liz Palmer.

Bu the Chargers are not relying on last year’s heroics to carry them through their potent Catholic League schedule.

They’re putting in the labor outside of practice and games, hoping the work will translate into a greater performance on the field.

“All our league games are tough and very competitive,” Powers’ Coach Betsy Kreston said. “(The girls) put a lot of off-season work into getting better at their skills.”

Seniors center Jaimie Brady, attack Shelby Rubel and midfielders Allyson Fritts and Liza Flewelling and junior Devin Ferris will have to continue their offensive prowess if they expect to mimic a year ago.

Brady and Rubel can draw from the final goal last season as inspiration when they connected on Powers’ overtime game-winning goal in the state final.

According to Kreston, Seniors Samantha Palmer and Hannah Neymanowski are the keys to shoring up the defense.

Still, the Chargers have no reason to believe they can’t repeat and continue their winning legacy.

“We always have high expectations and we intend to defend our state title,” said Kreston.

BirMinGhaM uniFiedCan Birmingham Unified make it a three-peat? That will depend on a few things, namely if their defense can

continue the dominance it has shown for the past two seasons.Leading the way in the backfield is Andrea Maham.“She has good experience from the last two years,” Birmingham

Unified coach Jen Dunbar said. “She’s a good communicator, very fast, and great at organizing the D.”

A second factor will be net play. The Bulldogs lost goalie Emmy Scheidt to graduation. If the team can find a solid replacement for her, they’re headed in the right direction.

The third factor is their offense and so far the Bulldogs’ Brooke MacGregor (six points), Julia Carnivole (five points), and Kate Murray (four points) lead the attack.

Birmingham does have the potential to have all these factors come together once again.

“We will continue improving with every game,” Dunbar said. “We have some young players but so far they have shown some maturity and impressive skills.”

The Bulldogs are 1-1 on the season after beating Ann Arbor Huron and losing to Ann Arbor Pioneer.

“All of the seniors have done a good job coming together to lead this team to another strong year,” Dunbar said.

As with all defending champs, the Bulldogs have one goal in mind for this season: “To win another state championship,” said Dunbar.

troy athensThe Hawks are happier thinking about what they have rather

than worrying about what they’ve lost.Troy Athens was left with a gaping hole when three-time all-state

Lauren Brown graduated after last season. However, the rest of Athens’ power is still hanging around.

Leading scorers from last season Vittoria Wallace (39 goals, 24 assists) and Angie Meitzler (23 goals, 14 assists) along with Gina Ris, are go-to players.

“These are our top players and they really key our offense,” Troy Athens’ coach Rob Holder said. “Ris is an extremely strong leader. She really pushes her teammates to be the best they can be.”

Alyssa Lograsso and Kathryn Wellein are the Hawks’ top defenders.

Athens is coming off a 10-7-1 regular season and lost to Birmingham Unified in the state regional finals last year. The school has been in contention for a state championship each of the last four years losing to Birmingham in the playoffs the last two and losing to Grosse Pointe South in the title game the two years prior.

Now is the time for the Hawks to make their move.“We want to be competitive for a state championship,” Holder

said. “Our whole season is dedicated to preparation for the state tournament.”

northville

With an improved squad, the Mustangs are hoping for a big season.

“We’ve come into this year with more talent then ever before and we just need to play our best each game,” Northville coach Lindsay Hoyt said.

Northville is coming off a 6-8-2 record and started this season off 1-2.

The Mustangs are realistic about what they can accomplish this season even though they feel they are a souped up version of previous Northville teams.

“Our goals are to work hard and improve our overall skills, transitional game, and be consistent in each game,” Hoyt said.

Genna Guibord, Kathleen Terrian, and Erin Wensing are expected to jumpstart the offense. Morgan Brow, Eryn Smith, and Rachel Jurczyszyn will be the top defenders.

“They’ll play a key role as our point and cover point leading the defense,” Hoyt said.

Captains Brow, Sarah Bielskis, Shelley Gudobba, and Hannah Deacon are all responsible for the increase in know-how and confidence the Mustangs are showing this season.

“My captains set up pre-season conditioning and built the team morale,” Hoyt said.

Northville understands who they’re stiffest competition will be in the Kensington Lakes Athletics Association.

“South Lyon and Brighton are talented teams and are our toughest opponents,” Hoyt said.

With files from Sarah Zientarski and Bob St. John

grosse point North senior captains (from left) alexa Quinlan, adriana Badalamenti and alexa Lucchese lead coach Bill Seaman’s Lady Norsemen.

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After losing to Ann Arbor Pioneer by 13 goals last season, Saline head coach John Harris was hoping for a better outcome when the two teams met again this season.

And when the Hornets came back from a 7-3 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to beat the Pioneers, 8-7, in overtime at home on March 26, it was almost more than he could have expected.

“It’s a pretty big deal for us,” said Harris. “We have tremendous respect for Pioneer as a program and use them as a yardstick. They really took it to us last year so for us to compete and come out on top was great.”

Against Pioneer, senior Rob DeHaan (four goals, one assist) and junior Kyle Harris (three goals, two assists) each had five points. And junior Ryan Mickevicius notched the game-winner when he moved in from the corner and ripped a shot from in tight. The Hornets defense, led by senior co-captain Brad Crimmins and goalie Ian Evans, was also strong.

“When it was scoreless halfway through the first quarter, I thought we might have a good chance,” said Harris. “We played really well, took care of the ball and finished.”

Grand rapids Forest hills central

Forest Hills Central doesn’t consider this a rebuilding year.

The Division 2 state runner-up graduated a superb senior class, but the Rangers replace it with experienced juniors ready to take last year’s success one step further.

“We’re hoping it’s a reloading year,” Forest Hills Central coach Tony Quinn said. “We think we have the kids to step in and continue what we started.”

The Rangers, who finished last year 18-4, edged Warren De La Salle by a goal in the regional finals and topped Grosse Pointe South, 12-8, in the state semifinals to meet rival East Grand Rapids for the Division 2 title.

The Rangers trailed just 6-5 entering the fourth, but the Pioneers outscored FHC, 8-2, in the final stanza.

“We definitely took some satisfaction for being there,” Quinn said. “Losing to our rival was disappointing, but they’ve been there a lot. They’ve been a perennial state power. It was our first opportunity. We’re using it as a stepping stone to where we want to be.”

The Rangers return first team All-State goalie Danny Kransberger, junior midfielders Thomas Sible and Nick Covert, attackers Sam Carlson and Trevor Lundblad and defenseman Greg Getschow.

FHC has erupted out of the gates this season, outscoring its first three opponents by a combined 55-2.

“We’ve caught other teams on the right night,” Quinn said. “We’ve made it a point to work really hard and get into the best shape that we can, and it’s been evident with our great start.”

Grosse pointe south Last spring, the Blue Devils advanced to their first-ever Division

2 state semifinal, losing 12-8 to host Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.

However, offensive standouts Sam Mott, Garrett Cox and Alex Langton graduated, leaving a hole in the lineup.

Several other top-notch players graduated, but that hasn’t deterred head coach Don Wolford from focusing on winning this season.

“We don’t have that go-to guy with a cannon for a shot, which means the guys have to step up, work the ball and run the offense to get those open shots,” Wolford said.

This season’s returning players are seniors Pat Pawlowski, Chris Thomas, John Conway, John Lovasco, Lyle Baumgarten, Kevin Macconnachie, Dan Gerow and Matthew Gaggin; and juniors James Morris, Paul Ferriole and Pat Gregory.

Seniors Roger Vandenbussche, Kevin Ginnebaugh and Mike Harrison; juniors Nick Monforton, Alex Krebs, Spencer Ray, Nicholas Faiver, Peter Nelson, Kurt Hollerbach, Bill McCaughey, Max Reitzloff, Andrew McCoy and Matt Hughes; and sophomores Nicholas Diehl, Andrew Liederbach, Thomas Shields, Chris Smith and Jeff Blazoff round out the roster.

The Blue Devils schedule includes Birmingham Detroit Country Day,

Warren De LaSalle, Forest Hills Eastern and Ann Arbor Pioneer.In addition, South faces rivals Grosse Pointe North and University

Liggett, along with Farmington, L’Anse Creuse, Warren Woods-Tower, Utica Eisenhower, Romeo and Warren Consolidated.

Wolford’s squad began the season by beating Romeo 7-2 and losing 3-1 to L’Anse Creuse North.

“We played pretty well defensively in each game, but offensively we need to get more shots on the goalie, instead of just on net because too many of our shots have been offline,” Wolford said. “We need to step it up offensively, which I saw at times in the first couple of games, but not consistently enough.”

east Grand rapidsFor the defending Division 2 state champions the 2009 campaign

is off to a good start, but head coach Adam Vincent knows his team still has a lot to learn.

“I’m pleased with the level of play so far, but we’ve got a lot of work left to do to get where we want to go,” said Vincent.

Helping the Pioneers off to an early 2-0 start have been senior Joe Glendening and sophomore Jacob Coretti. Glendening is a three-year starter, and Coretti led the Pioneers in goals scored last season as a freshman.

Vincent said he’s also hoping for big contributions from juniors Sam Heidenreich and Josh Drummond.

“We have some very good athletes in key positions and a strong

supporting cast,” said Vincent, who admitted his Pioneers will have to fight through a pretty competitive schedule this season, with one game standing out from the rest.

On April 21, East Grand Rapids will travel across town to take on Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, in what’ll be a re-match of last year’s state championship game, which the Pioneers won 14-7.

l’anse creuse northLast season it took the Crusaders eight games before they recorded

their first victory, but this season they started out with two straight wins, outscoring their opponents by a combined 15-2.

Seniors Nick Daniels, Chris Clark, and Trevor Soffin lead the Crusaders up front. Junior Josh Gonzalez has been strong between the pipes, allowing only three goals through the first three games.

Head coach Rob Melling said the solid play of his defenders might be the highlight of this season. Seniors Derek St. Louis and Devon O’Ray are directing the defense for Melling’s team.

“Defensively this may be one of the best teams we’ve ever had,” said Melling, who’s been coaching the Crusaders since 2001.

With consistent offensive play and depth on defense, Melling hopes his team will continue to improve their skills both on and off the field.

“It would be nice to get over the .500 mark, but anything can happen, so we’ll see,” said Melling.

detroit country dayCountry Day hopes another year of maturity pays

dividends.The Yellowjackets, which started nine sophomores

last season, look to build on last year’s impressive postseason run to the Division 2 regional finals, where they lost a one-goal thriller to Grosse Pointe South.

“We were extremely young last year,” Yellowjackets coach John Kenney said. “They’re all a year older, so hopefully they’ll be more competitive and poised.”

Country Day defeated Farmington, 9-4, in last year’s regional semifinals. In the finals, the teams played to a 5-all tie late in the fourth quarter, but the Blue Devils scored with two minutes remaining to take the lead for good.

This season, Country Day will look for leadership from junior midfielders Joe MacLean (third team All-

State) and Brett Smith and senior attackers Sami Takriti and Sam Lanfear (second team All-State).

“All of them are at least two-year starters,” Kenney said. “Those four guys will really be the keys to how our offensive engine rolls.”

Country Day started the 2009 season on a high note with a 14-5 win over Troy.

BirMinGhaM Brother riceThe defending Division I State Champions have shown no signs

of rust this season, as they recorded 29 goals for in their first two games.

Leading the charge for the Warriors thus far have been Captains Nick Dolik, who led the team in scoring a year ago, and Danny Henneghan, who’s committed to Penn State University, according to head coach Rob Ambrose.

Unlike some senior laden teams in the past, this year’s squad is comprised of more inexperienced underclassmen.

“We have young kids,” said Ambrose. “So it will be a learning curve to get this team up to speed.”

Some of those up and coming players include Joey VanAntwerp, Bennett Packer, and Grant Fischer. The Warriors have an experienced goaltender in three-year starter TJ Yost.

continued on page 12

Saline opens season with big victory as boy’s teams tune-up

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grosse pointe South junior Kurt hollerbach (right) helped the Blue devils start the season with a win over romeo.

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School: 5/6, 7/8, JV, Varsity divisions Club: U13, U15, U17, U19 divisions Teams from all over the Midwest • Men’s and Women’s Divisions

3 Game Minimum

For More Information Contact Alan Maxwell @ 517-367-3266or director@greatlakeslacrosse.net

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Come JoinApplication Deadline: June 16

By larry O’COnnOr

Two Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association schools will start varsity lacrosse programs next year, but it’s not enough to tip the sport into becoming conference-sanctioned entity.

Albion College will start men’s and women’s program next spring while a women’s team is on the horizon for 2010 at MIAA-rival Olivet.

Their addition, though, still leaves the MIAA a few schools shy of making lacrosse a conference sport. At least five of the MIAA’s nine schools need to offer a program for it to be recognized as a conference sport.

So far, four MIAA schools (Adrian, Hope, Albion and Olivet) have women’s lax teams and three (Adrian, Albion and Hope) offer men’s programs.

Meanwhile, another MIAA school, Adrian College, is looking to link up with a fledgling lacrosse conference.

The Midwest Lacrosse Conference founding members would include Adrian, Trine, Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Carthage (Wisconsin), Milwaukee School of Engineering and Fontbonne University (St. Louis, Mo.).

The NCAA Division III Membership Committee granted the Midwest lax circuit membership status in February.

Other potential MLC members could include Albion, Otterbein (Ohio) and St. Vincent (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

MIAA schools voted to make lacrosse a conference sanctioned sport once enough varsity programs were in place. The recent economic downtown has stalled those plans, Adrian men’s coach Chris Delfausse said.

“A number of schools that were talking about it pushed it to the backburner with a lot of the economic turmoil going on,” Delfausse said. “From that they are trying to make prudent decisions.

“When we found out other schools weren’t going to be starting a program for a couple years or – who knows how long it could be – we were in kind of wait-and-see mode. That’s when myself and a couple of other coaches put together the idea of the Midwest Lacrosse League.”

Before deciding on which conference to play in, Albion College officials are busy trying to hire coaches for their respective men’s

and women’s programs. The teams start play in 2010.

hirinG coachesThe response from potential recruits has been overwhelming,

Albion Athletic Director Lisa Roschek said.Hopefuls will likely be contacted once coaches are in place, the

Albion AD said. For that reason, school officials opted not to take part in talks

about forming a new conference, figuring coaches need to be involved, Roschek said.

The school’s men and women club teams have between 30 and 40 members each, which helped fuel the move.

“It seems like the right time to make the shift to varsity,” Roschek said.

About 50 applied for the men’s position. Interviews have been completed with a finalist expected to be named by early April.

A women’s coach is not expected to be named for at least a couple of weeks. So far, 20 have applied, the AD said.

“For me, I want someone who is passionate about lacrosse and who is willing to build a strong program,” said Roschek, who also serves as Albion women’s soccer coach. “They are building the program scratch.”

At Olivet, Brian Jacob and Dave Tanis will coach the women’s team. Jacob and Tanis oversee the Comets’ club program. The school is also weighing starting a men’s program.

The sport’s growing popularity transcends the small private college setting, Olivet Athletic Director Dominic Livedoti said.

“I’m not sure it’s just for MIAA, I just think it is another way to increase athletics for men and women – maybe even more so for women,” Livedoti said. “Another thing is that it is another sport where a handful of high schools in Michigan have been playing.

“We looked at Adrian, which started a year ago and has been very successful. You attract students to your campus with that sport.”

MIAA’s Albion College and Olivet to field varsity teams next season

adrian college sophomore Jeff ivey (left) and the Bulldogs’ men’s team could become part of the fledgling Midwest Lacrosse League next season.

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9opinion

How many times have you heard that the Michigan prep lacrosse landscape is rapidly changing?

Our ‘annual conversation’ about who is emerging from the competitive shadows of mediocrity to challenge the big boys up on ‘elite mountain’ apparently keeps the heart fires burning in winter.

The Internet forums and live blogs are jam packed in the off-season with speculation about the infinite possibilities of who’s stronger

and what if so-and-so played what’s his name?We have talked for years that with the advent of more public

school teams taking up our spring obsession, it was only a matter of time before the playing field was leveled and more teams could compete with each other.

Winter leagues, summer camps and fall ball are the talent vehicles driving Michigan High School lacrosse players to improve and excel and the recent start of the prep season is probably as good a gauge as any for monitoring the improvement.

unexpected victoriesIn the opening two weeks of the 2009 lacrosse season, we have

witnessed unexpected victories by non-traditional squads, losses from powerhouse programs that left us scratching our heads and more than enough lacrosse scores to keep Laxpower as a book mark on your laptop.

If you’re not watching the scoreboard, you should probably take a peek.

This season has already witnessed the University of Detroit, everybody’s pick to challenge No. 1 Brother Rice, barely beat Birmingham United and then lose to Rockford. And even though both games were determined by a single goal, the Cubs’ loss to Rockford was stunning.

Now, we know all the folks on the blogs have offered excuse after excuse about the refereeing, ‘not having their best players’ and enough rationalizations to last a while, Rockford still beat the University of Detroit.

If that’s not evidence enough, consider Saline’s one-goal win over traditional neighbor Ann Arbor Pioneer.

Apparently John Harris has his Hornet’s all charged up at 2-0 and

he’s going to leave a lot of opponents feeling like they’ve just been stung by a better team.

Two days after losing to Saline, Darren Millman had his Pioneer team roll a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division II state finalist by three goals. Pioneer beat Forest Hills Central rather easily.

And if the landscape isn’t changing, consider this, the day after Pioneer’s victory, East Grand Rapids, the Division II state champs, ripped Novi Catholic Central by six goals.

There are plenty of examples of eyebrow-raising lacrosse scores in the early part of the season to at least begin the debate that program equity seems plausible.

Joe Laird, South Lyon’s rookie coach, said they scrimmaged Brighton in the pre-season with positive results. The Bulldogs just beat South Lyon in overtime, and while a one-goal game in the Kensington Lakes Athletic Association (KLAA) isn’t a monumental benchmark, the result does show you can’t underestimate any

opponent on the playing field, especially this year.Laird said after the game that he was sure they wouldn’t have a

problem with their league opponent. And he warned his team after the contest they shouldn’t, and can’t, take their opponents lightly.

So, you have to ask the question, is prep lacrosse in Michigan gaining or losing public sentiment as a result of some interesting final outcomes?

There will always be contests were the final score is fairly

predictable. And there will always be upsets, but that’s the beauty of this discussion.

The change in power was inevitable as our sport grows, but we should embrace it as a gift from above in more ways than you can imagine.

the BeneFits are tWo-FoldThe obvious asset for our lacrosse community is two-fold. One is

publicity and the other financial.If more competitive teams get a seat at the ‘Big Boys’ table, then

we all share the wealth that success brings. The more folks yakking about squads from Saline, Forest Hills Eastern, Rockford, Holt and Okemos, teams currently in Laxpower’s Top 15, the better off our sport is because there is no such an animal as bad publicity, unless, we’re talking felony.

The second tier of the success ladder is purely financial rewards. Again, as teams improve, more fans get interested and show up to watch.

Prep lacrosse is one of the few sporting activities in the spring that athletic directors can charge an admission. They don’t charge for baseball or tennis, but lacrosse, even with a small crowd can produce a black revenue stream. And taking in money is a sure way to make an athletic director smile.

Eventually, these small growing signs of success should, and will, make a dent in how we are perceived by the rest of the high school athletic family. Familiarity can often breed recognition and acceptance, something we desperately need.

We need upsetsThe wave of change is coming, slowly, and we have to be prepared

not to drown. Our sport needs upsets, new competitive blood at the top and enough surprises to keep the fan base talking and the blogs speculating.

We all cheer the underdogs, and just like the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) basketball tournament, most are hoping a No. 10 seed can upset a No. 1 seed. What is it about rooting for the less fortunate? At any rate, I am guessing when all the dust settles at the end of the season, the Laxpower rankings will probably resemble something like they did last year, but that’s alright because for now we’re talking about lacrosse in more than the traditional spots and you remember that axiom about publicity?

Now, we just have to find somebody that can beat Brother Rice.

Greg Normand is the head coach at Eastern Michigan University and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and is a regular contributor to Michigan Lacrosse, MCLA – The Lax Magazine and Inside Lacrosse.

The prep landscape is changing

GREG NORMANDGREG NORMAND

With more public school teams taking up our spring obsession, it Was only a matter of time before the playing field Was leveled and more teams

could compete With each other.

consistency Key For BirMinGhaM seaholM There’s no question the Bulldogs have talent.But they also are inexperienced, and their chances at reaching

ultimate goals hinges on how well the new cast can solidify.“Our expectation every year is to challenge for both state and

Midwest titles,” Birmingham Seaholm coach Jeff Martin said. “The key to our success this season is getting all our new faces playing together and making smart decisions with the ball.

“We have new starters at every position this year and getting them all to gel and trust each other is a major goal of ours in the early going.”

Seaholm finished 11-9 last season, including wins over Novi Catholic Central, Detroit Country Day and an overtime victory over Division 1 state finalist University of Detroit Jesuit.

The Bulldogs defeated Canton 10-1 in the regional semifinals, but lost, 9-3, in the finals to Ann Arbor Pioneer.

Junior midfielder Brent Prior, a second team All-State selection, returns for Seaholm, along with senior captain and defenseman Tom Stacy, senior captain and attacker Mike Smock and junior captain and midfielder Scott Drummond.

This season, Seaholm opened with a 14-3 win over Clarkston, but then suffered a one-goal loss to U of D Jesuit and a 10-6 decision to Catholic Central.

“We have a young, talented squad that works extremely hard,” Martin said. “The biggest thing for us this season is to play hard, tough and especially smart all the time. Consistency is our word of the year.”

Flint poWers

Offense will not give Flint Powers fits. It’s the other end of the field that could decide whether the Chargers capture their first regional championship.

Flint Powers, which finished last season 14-6 and lost to eventual Division 2 state champion East Grand Rapids in the regional finals, come into this season with lofty expectations. Laxpower.com ranked the Chargers ninth in one recent Michigan rating.

“We should be very strong on offense with a veteran group returning,” Flint Powers coach Travis Perry said. “But we have holes to fill on defense and in net.”

Luke Goyette, Jonah Spurlin and Kevin Beer should lead the Chargers’ high-octane attack. The Chargers also return first team All-State midfielder Austin Vickrey, who possesses great agility and stick skills for a player standing 6-foot-4.

“We would like to win our league after losing to Notre Dame Prep for the first time in three years,” Perry said, “ and capture our first regional championship.”

Flint Powers started this season with an 18-3 win over Swartz Creek and 11-6 victory over Hartland. The Chargers have their first meeting with Notre Dame Prep on April 7.

ann arBor GaBriel richard

First-year coach Mark Erber has gradually introduced his new offensive scheme, fearing information overload. But he has nothing to fear when it comes to his defense.

The Fighting Irish have allowed 1.2 goals per game on their way to a 4-0 record this season.

Their offense, however, needs to strengthen for Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard to experience real success.

“The kids have to get used to the plays we’re running,” Erber said. “Our offense is a little behind. The season, I think, is really going to swing on how well our offense moves the ball around. In four games, we’re not clicking offensively. Meanwhile, our defense will hold the other team to 10 or 11 shots the whole game.”

Erber takes over a program that lost, 8-3, against Detroit Country Day in last season’s Division 2 regional tournament.

“Every game and every practice is a growing pain for me,” he said. “I’m nervous going into it, and we’re doing OK. I’m trying to give the kids offenses and not give them too much at one time.

“So far, it’s been working. I’m not trying to throw a lot at them. Just a little bit here and there.”

Three-year starter Joe Berry minds the goal, while four-year starter Josh Carl carries the midfield. Attacker Eric Kanicki and defensemen Max Hartsell and Brendan Murphy – another four-year player – also play vital roles.

With files from Scott McNeish, Ryan Doherty and Bob St. John

BoYs HigH scHooL continued from page 9

our sport needs upsets, neW competitive blood at the top and enough surprises to keep the fan base talking and the blogs speculating.

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9men’s college reporT

Men’s college season heats up as teams find their grooveBy larry O’COnnOr

Central Michigan had a month break between a pair of February matches and venturing into the teeth of the CCLA schedule.

After the layoff, the Chips fell to No. 1-ranked Michigan, 21-4, on March 27 before heading out east for matches against Boston College (April 3), Northeastern (April 4) and the University of Boston (April 5). The team doesn’t return home until April 11 when it hosts Eastern Michigan.

Senior attackman Chris Cooper leads the Chips with six goals and five assists.

“He’s playing very well right now,” says first-year head coach Brad Thomas. “He’s doing a good job of scoring and passing. He’s doing everything we’re asking of him right now offensively.”

The team split a pair of February matches, beating Western Michigan, 8-7, before losing to Grand Valley State, 11-10, a week later. CMU battled back to make it a one-goal game against GVSU, which offered a glimpse into the team’s character, the coach says.

“It shows the guys have a lot of heart. We’re never out of a game,” Thomas says. “We have enough offensive firepower and enough defensive ability to keep ourselves in games if we play the way we’re capable of.”

eastern MichiGanWith three of the CCLA Division I top-five scorers,

the Eagles obviously have figured out things offensively.

Romaine Witt’s 21 goals and 12 assists for 33 points was second in the CCLA while Lee Wright was fourth with 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points while Nick Thurber ranked third with 14 goals and nine assists for 23 points.

However, EMU’s bloated goals-against has overshadowed an otherwise buoyant start under new coach Greg Normand. The team surrendered 28 goals total in two games alone, including a 16-13 victory over Bowling Green State University March 18. The Eagles lost a nail-biter to Grand Valley State, 17-15, three days later.

A 33-8 thumping at the hands of Michigan March 20 didn’t exactly help, either.

“I know we gave up a bunch to Michigan and I won’t count that, but we have allowed 13 goals to Bowling Green and 17 to Grand Valley, minus the Michigan mess. We have to improve our save percentage,” said Chris Brecht, Eastern’s defensive coordinator, in a statement on the team’s web site.

Starting netminder David Hylko has a 11.00 goals-against with .64 save percentage in six games. The Livonia sophomore is 3-2.

davenport Davenport players christened the university’s new turf field with

a pair of home victories over Miami (Ohio) and Northern Michigan March 21-22.

In addition to a state-of-the-art playing surface, the team also has new locker rooms and training facilities.

Against the Huskies, the Panthers erupted for 11 first-half goals to cruise to a 20-6 victory. The win followed a 14-9 triumph over Miami. The pair of wins left the CCLA Division 2 team undefeated after seven matches this season.

“We certainly feel like we have some work ahead of us to continue to improve as we go,” Davenport coach Bob Clarkson said. “Obviously, if we go to the conference playoffs and the nationals, we’ll have to be peaking at the right time.”

Attackman Shawn Beer led Davenport in scoring with 19 goals and seven assists for 26 points with freshman attacker Jordan Richtsmeier keeping pace with 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. Sophomore midfielder Oliver Wade had eight goals and two assists for 10 points.

MichiGanNo. 1-ranked Michigan’s torrid start has been done with scoring

– primarily the marksmanship of Trevor Yearly. The Pittsburgh, Pa. attacker racked up 27 goals in the team’s first

six games, hitting the jackpot on 56 percent of his shots. Last season, the 6-foot-3 attacker led the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse

Association champions with 70 goals. He’s on pace to well exceed that this season.

“He really hasn’t slowed his pace this year,” Michigan coach John Paul said. “He’s just a very, very tough guy for other teams to match up against.

“He’s a big kid. He’s a great finisher and a great dodger, so they just can’t expect him to stay in the crease where they can shut him off. And our middies do a great job in finding him.”

The Wolverines have also received a bountiful of offensive support from Kevin Zorovich (nine goals, 11 assists for 20 points), Anthony Hrusovsky (nine goals, eight assists for 17 points) and Riley Kearns (eight goals, nine assists for 17 points) during their unbeaten run.

UM opened Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association play with a resounding 33-8 home victory over Eastern Michigan University on March 20. Senior attacker Wes McGowan shoveled in six goals on eight shots while Clark McIntyre had three goals and Josh Ein a goal and six assists in the win.

The Wolverines then knocked off Central Michigan, 21-4, on March 27 and #4 ranked Brigham Young, 14-11, in a game that has developed into a solid rivalry.

MichiGan stateThe Spartans have already shown a knack for knocking off big-

name schools in non-conference games.Under new coach Dwayne Hicks, MSU downed Colorado,

Minnesota and Texas Tech. The No. 15-ranked Spartans stumbled against No. 9-ranked Lindenwood University, 9-7, March 20.

A factor to consider in the loss was it served as MSU’s third game while Lindenwood had played nine, Hicks says.

“Right now, we’re playing catch-up,” the first-year coach says. “We’re getting the experience other teams have already had, because we didn’t play in February.

“It will all even out in the end.”Against the Buffaloes, the Spartans erupted for an 11-3 season-

opening victory March 15. Detroit Country Day product Brian Kegley scored four goals while sophomores Patrick Nemes (Novi) and Connor Bush each added three goals.

The following day, Nemes exploded for four goals in MSU’s 15-3 over the Golden Gophers while Wes Binder had three and Kegley two. Goalie Brian Hall (Farmington) picked up wins in both games and has played consistently well in all the Spartan contests.

MichiGan-dearBornSenior goalie Joel Rosen continued to shine in the Wolves’ net

despite the team’s anemic 1-3 record.The Farmington product backstopped boasted a .66 save-

percentage and a 7.5 goals-against average. Rosen spearheads a robust defensive corps that includes junior defender Matt Laurinec and long-stick middle Mike Prokic.

In a 5-4 loss to Oakland March 22, a stout defense wasn’t enough

to overcome two critical penalties that led to two Grizzlies’ goals, including the eventual game-winner. The Wolves led 3-1 going into the final quarter.

Scott Wisnieweski’s goal with 16 seconds left brought the Wolves back to within a goal. The freshman midfielder fired and barely missed with five seconds left.

“We just can’t finish games in the fourth quarter for some reason,” UM-Dearborn coach Jason Watts said. “Oakland just possessed the ball on us and we had two bad penalties and they scored on those.”

adrianAfter a blazing 4-0 start, the Bulldogs landed back in reality with

back-to-back losses at home.In both cases, lackluster second-half performances proved to be

Adrian’s undoing. On March 21, the team lost 14-8 to Kenyon College, which erupted for eight goals in the second half after nursing a 6-4 advantage at intermission. The Bulldogs then surrendered nine goals

in the second half of their 14-7 loss to Ohio Wesleyan March 25 after being tied 5-5 at the half.

Sophomore attacker Ryan Knautz, who’s started in all six games, led the Bulldogs with 16 goals and six assists for 25 points. Freshman attacker David Monroe (Ann Arbor Huron) had eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points while sophomore attacker Jeff Ivey posted 13 goals and an assist in six games.

Freshman Goalie Pat Gaeger, who started four of the team’s first six games, had a 9.76 goals against with a .528 save-percentage. Sophomore Eric Lindstrom (Lansing Waverly) won both of his starts.

aquinasDespite a depleted roster, the Saints started

the campaign with two straight wins before being upended by a division-rival Hope College.

Aquinas knocked off Augustana, 9-8, in overtime March 20 and Palmer College of Chiropractic, 13-3, March 21 on the road. A few days later, the team’s homecoming was derailed by Hope, 19-11.

Against Augustana and Palmer, the Saints only had 14 players but still prevailed. Injuries, disciplinary issues and a handful of players who decided not to make the commitment have led to the bare roster.

“We have low numbers this year,” said first-year coach Luke Griemsman. “If everyone is healthy, we will have 16 this year.”

In the loss to Hope, the Saints were without leading scorer Matt Schelter (six goals and two assists for eight points), who had an eye infection. Midfielder Doug Seites had six goals and an assist through

three games.With Oakland dropping down to Division 2 and Calvin and UM-

Dearborn, the team’s climb will be difficult.“We definitely have our work cut out for us,” Griemsman said.

Grand valley stateThough undefeated, the Lakers were given a few scares in the

onset of the new season.The scraped by with wins over Central Michigan, 11-10, Feb.

21 and Eastern Michigan, 17-14, on March 21. The Lakers were running at full throttle when they pummeled Northern Michigan, 23-3, March 28.

“We’ve been surprised by a couple of teams we’ve played,” coach Murle Greer said. “We’re right where we want to be.”

Sophomore attacker Cam Holding picked up from last season’s sizzling pace, scoring 15 goals and five assists in three games, while junior midfielder Bailor Bell (Traverse City) had six goals and one assist. Freshman attacker Jack Dumsa (Novi Detroit Catholic Central) had five goals and six assists.

Grand Valley State had a low number of early season games, which was a contrast to schools like Davenport that played eight in the same span.

The team had an ambitious schedule ahead with games against Oakland, March 29; Aquinas, April 2; Wisconsin-Eau Clare, April 3, St. John’s, April 4; and St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minn.), April 5. The April 3-5 contests were on the road.

“They (Davenport) have a travel budget that obviously we don’t have,” Greer said. “So, we have to wait for the weather to break and the weather has been good to us so far.

“Our season is really about to kick off as far as games go.”

Sophomore attack patrick Nemes (center) has helped Michigan State to wins over colorado, Minnesota and Texas Tech this season.

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9Women’s college reporT

Michigan’s women’s college teams are in mid-season formBy larry O’COnnOr

The No. 4-ranked Michigan withstood a Rocky Mountain snowstorm before deluging opponents at the Colorado State Tournament on March 27-29.

The 14-3 Wolverines posted wins over Denver (19-6), Wyoming (18-2), No. 10 Brigham Young (8-5) and No. 18 Minnesota (14-3) while dropping a 9-7 contest to host No. 7 Colorado State.

“(The conditions) were pretty rough,” Wolverines coach Jen Dunbar said. “The first couple of games were OK but when we took the field against BYU, we played in pretty dense fog and we didn’t have much visibility. The game got put on hold for a few minutes until the fog cleared.”

Junior attacker Amy Johnson continued her laser-like accuracy around the net, netting 23 goals on 30 shots in 10 games.

The Washington D.C. native’s deadly sniper eye was one highlight in the Wolverines’ scorching 10-2 start this season as the team outscored opponents, 145-52.

Also carrying the offense load were Britt Boehn (21 goals, 9 assists), Rachel Lary (16 goals, 3 assists), Alexis Pavle (13 goals and 6 assists).

A pair of freshmen, Mynda Krato of Grosse Pointe and Emmy Scheidt of Birmingham, have shouldered the goaltending load. Scheidt posted a 3.8 goals-against average with a 53.1 save-percentage in 10 games while Krato had a 1.3 goals against and 63.6 save percentage while playing in six contests.

“The positive is that we are improving,” Dunbar said. “We’re getting better and seeing in games what we had been working on the last couple of weeks in practice.

“We have really been working on our transition out of the defensive end and we did a much job of swinging the ball and not always pushing off for a fast break.”

MichiGan stateThe No. 14-ranked Spartans’ scoring-by-committee approach

paid dividends in the early going. Senior attacker Allison Atchoo settled in as chairwoman with a team-leading 38 points in eight games.

The Troy High product’s offensive output was aptly complemented by sophomore midfielder Rachel Rideout (22 goals in eight games), attacker Chelsea Bean (14 goals), midfielder Maggie Silvasi (13 goals) and attacker Katie Carr (11 goals).

“It’s been a good year on offense for us,” Coach Sara Tisdale said. “It’s a very balanced and a very trusting offense, which is really nice to see.

“It’s hard to defend against an offense like that because you can’t just shut down one of our players because someone else steps up.”

A switch to a zone defense has added another wrinkle in the Spartans’ arsenal this season. The tactic employs team speed while compensating for a lack of size on the backline.

“We are very strong and we’re very smart. We’re returning eight

academic All-Americans,” the coach said. “As far as the concept of the game, they really get it.”

The team’s fortunes largely rested with a West Coast swing April 3-5 where the Spartans will play five Top-25 teams, including Santa Clara, University of California-San Bernadino, Texas and University of California-Davis.

adrian colleGeIn a short two years, the Bulldogs have carved a foothold in

women’s collegiate lacrosse circles.The 8-3 team upended Pacific (Ore.) College, 17-5, and Colorado

Springs, 15-9, on the road March 27-28 to extend its unbeaten run to four games. The Bulldogs, who finished 6-7 last season in what Coach John Sung described as a “dress rehearsal,” are on pace to double their number of victories.

The team had four games left, including two at home against Washington & Jefferson April 4 and Wooster April 18.

If they complete the sweep, the Bulldogs would likely pin down a No. 1 or 2 ranking in the NCAA Division 3 West Region rankings, “which is unheard of for a second-program,” Sung said.

“They have all come together and learned how to win,” added Sung, whose freshman-dominated team had only two sophomores on the field at any given time.

Freshman attacker Rachel Johnston, who has averaged 6.1 points a game, was a catalyst in the Bulldogs’ surge past Colorado College with six goals and an assist. Freshmen Amanda Lambert, Lindsey

Day and Jovelle Ward (Ann Arbor Huron) had three goals each.“The thing is we have the right pieces and that’s the key,” Sung

said. “We have kids who might not be able to play every where, but the positions that they are at they are great at.”

detroit MercyThe first-year program appeared to get over some early-season

blahs with a two-game winning streak to close out March.The Titans rolled over visiting Presbyterian College, 21-15,

March 28, which came after a 17-3 lopsided victory over Fresno State the previous day. Freshman Anna Eidem led Detroit Mercy’s two-game feat with 13 goals and five assists.

Team-leading scorer, freshman midfielder Emily Boissonneault, finished the weekend with 12 goals to bring her season total 38 goals in nine games.

Freshman midfielder Cornia Mahorn (17 goals and two assists for 19 points) and freshman attacker Rachel Iturralde (four goals and seven assists for 11 points) have also contributed to the Titan offensive coffers.

Freshman Brett Yenger started every game in goal, compiling a 4-5 win-loss record with a 11.90 goals-against and .462 save-percentage.

oaKlandThe 6-3 Lady Grizzlies maintained a steady course despite seeing

their player numbers drop from 21 to 14 in recent weeks.A number of players, who were nursing majors, left the program

when it conflicted with lab work, Oakland coach Towbey Kassa said. The winning record was an achievement for another reason.

“It’s pretty much the hardest schedule we’ve had in the school’s history,” said Kassa, noting his team has played Division A schools like Michigan and Lindenwood.To compete, OU opted for a control game, which frustrated

opponents like Saginaw State, which lost 14-6 to the Grizzlies March 28. The win enabled Oakland to capture their third-straight Western Conference Lacrosse League divisional title.

Sophomore midfielder Haley Noonan (Notre Dame Prep) and freshman attacker Ashley Krisfalusi (Troy High) carried the offensive load while freshman midfielder Jax Joyce (Waterford Mott) and sophomore attacker Caroline Brandon (Bloomfield Lahser High) provided the creative playmaking. The team has also been buoyed by the standout play of freshman midfielder Stephanie Barr (Eisenhower High).

After the University of Toledo Play Day April 4, the Grizzlies close the season against Central Michigan at Ultimate Soccer April 10.

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Michigan junior attacker amy Johnson (right) has scored 23 goals on 30 shots in 10 games this season.

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