Hawks roll from beginning, end Howell's season with 19-2 victory.

TROY, MI -- The Troy Athens Hawks played like the second-ranked team in Michigan on Wednesday night, with a 19-2 thumping of Howell in the MHSAA Playoffs' opening round. Athens was lead by junior attackman Greg Lindow with four goals. Other scorers were junior attackman Jeff Dylong and senior attackman Alex Zurowski with two goals apiece. The season is over for your Howell Highlanders, while Troy Athens advances to play Lansing Waverly (a 13-10 winner over Holland West Ottawa) on Wednesday, May 30th, at 5:30pm in the regional semifinals. The game is part one of a doubleheader at Holt High School. The nightcap features #4 Ann Arbor Pioneer against #12 Rockford at 7:00pm.

Stay tuned for more season-ending information.

Bulldogs Pound Highlanders 14-2 (from Daily Press & Argus).

BRIGHTON, MI -- The Brighton boys lacrosse team wanted to redeem itself. Not for any particular game this season, but for something that happened last year. Last season, the Bulldogs lost twice to Kensington Valley Conference rival Howell. For those that were on the team last year, last season was fresh in their minds Monday night.

"It's always a big rivalry," Brighton senior Zach Gustafson said. "But we were definitely a lot more motivated."

That was evident as the Bulldogs built an early lead en route to a 14-2 win over the Highlanders. Leading the charge for Brighton (4-0, 3-0 KVC) was senior Ryan Rochelle, who scored three goals and assisted on another in a first half that saw the Bulldogs jump out to an 11-2 lead. Gustafson also scored a goal and assisted on three others for Brighton, while teammates Kendall Hardesty and Tyler Staruch scored two goals apiece. Many of the Bulldogs' goals came as a result of crisp cuts and quick passing. At least three goals came on the lacrosse equivalent of a hockey one-timer, in which one player passed the ball from behind the goal to a crashing teammate who caught it and flicked it into the net in one motion. The Bulldogs efficient and potent offense is a product of familiarity, says Rochelle.

"I love it," he said. "I don't ever have to look up. I know exactly where Zach, Kendall, Brett (Dan) and a bunch of other guys are going to be. The chemistry we have together is really nice."

Brighton coach Greg Gustafson said his senior-laden attack is in its fourth year together and that has enjoyed watching those players grow together on the field.

"It's really nice to have some mature players," he said. "They're playing with a lot more confidence and they know that this is their last year playing together. So, that gives them some motivation."

The Highlanders (1-6, 0-3) actually got on the board first Monday night when senior Matt Strauss rifled a shot that Brighton goaltender Nolan Graff knocked down. The ball, however, trickled behind him and ever so slowly rolled just over the goal line to put Howell up 1-0 less than two minutes into the game.

"It shocked us a little bit," Rochelle admitted. "But then we just bounced right back. That's what you've got to do. Lacrosse is a high-scoring game. One goal doesn't mean anything."

Brighton responded when Hardesty scored 40 seconds later to tie the game, but the Highlanders took the lead back just 35 second after that. Senior Cory Bates darted through the Bulldogs' defense and deposited the ball in the net to put Howell up 2-1. At that point, the Highlanders were feeling good.

"I was impressed with how we started," Howell senior captain Gary Osepchuk said. "But then the bottom just fell out. We've got to put together an entire game. We can't just play one good period and expect to stay with a team like Brighton."

The Highlanders' one-goal lead held up for almost three minutes before Rochelle found the net for the first time to tie the game. Zach Hitch's goal just over a minute later gave Brighton the lead for good. Eli Gustafson, Derek Street and Bennet Estey also scored goals for the Bulldogs. The Highlanders play Wednesday night at Page Field against Walled Lake Northern (1-5).

Highlanders Beat Lincoln in Double-OT Thriller, 9-8 (4/21/07)

YPSILANTI, MI -- Ian Shollack scores the game winner in double-overtime to give the Highlanders their first win of the season.

Novi Jumps to Double-Digit Halftime Lead, Wins 16-2 (4/19/07)

NOVI, MI -- Novi jumped to a 12-0 lead at halftime and never looked back. Novi's Craig Howell (ironically) led all scores in the game with eight points (four goals/four assists). Also scoring on the Novi end were Matt Mandeville (three goals), Travis Blackledge (two goals), and George Riegel (two goals).