DAKOTA DOWNS LC NORTH IN DISTRICT SOCCER SEMIFINAL
It wasn’t a monkey that was on the backs of Dakota’s soccer team. It was more like a Chewbacca-sized creature that showed up whenever the Cougars went into a penalty-kick shootout in a state tournament game.
“I’m proud that we came back and won in PKs,” said coach Stefano Moraccini after Dakota outscored L’Anse Creuse North 4-3 in the shootout round to win the Division 1 district semifinal 2-1Monday at Chippewa Valley.
“The last three years we lost in PK shootouts. Maybe we got it off our back to move forward.”
The Cougars will play Anchor Bay, a 6-0 semifinal winner against L’Anse C reuse, for the district championship Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Chippewa Valley.
Sander Kalaj scored the deciding goal in the shootout. He said he wasn’t feeling any pressure when he lined up for the kick.
“My teammates all had confidence to score,” he said. “They put their PKs away and my keeper (John Cvetkovski) made two saves so there was nothing to be afraid of.”
Thomas James, Connor Pearce and Anthony Djokic also scored for Dakota in the shootout round. Nicholas Wasielewski, William Noble and goalkeeper Carter Timm had the LCN goals.
The teams battled through 40 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods on a cold, rainy night. The only goals in regulation were on penalty kicks. Christian Palushaj converted for Dakota with just over 15 minutes left in the second half, however, with 7:14 left Wasielewski was brought down in the penalty area and he scored on a high shot just inside the right post.
The Cougars had the ball in the Crusaders’ end of the field for much of the game but it seemed like they were a few inches off on their passes. When Dakota did get a shot on goal, Timm came
up with the save.
“Water is a great equalizer,” Moraccini said. “Anything can happen when it’s raining and it was raining all game. We had so many opportunities we couldn’t capitalize on. We had kids where we wanted them. In the first half we had a guy wide open in the center of the six-yard box. Instead of playing it back to him, one of the boys took a shot.
“The second half we had many chances. Guys were right there. Hats off to their keeper. He made a lot of great saves.”
Kalaj said the rain affected the play of both teams.
“When it’s slippery, the whole game can change,” he said. “But we have to keep playing to our level, not to the other team’s game.”
LCN had a chance to break the scoreless tie with about 20minutes left in regulation. Wasielewski got behind the Dakota defense but his shot rang off the crossbar.
Crusaders coach Elmir Sabanovic had nothing but praise for his team’s gritty effort.
“It’s been a tough year results-wise,” he said. “Part of it has been guys in and out due to injuries, but we kept growing. It was a young group that learned how to compete, how to fight physically, mentally and technically. I think that showed tonight. When you get to a PK shootout, it’s a lottery.
“The experience for the young guys coming back will be huge and we have a lot coming back. There aren’t enough words to explain how proud I am of these kids — the work they put in this season and staying together as a family regardless ofwhat happens on the field.”
Dakota played Anchor Bay early in the season and lost 6-0.
“It’s going to be the toughest game of the season. I hope we can have a good result,” Kalaj said.
CLARKSTON2, ROMEO 0
The visiting Wolves Clarkston scored twice within a seven- minute stretch of the second half to advance in district play.
Sophomore midfielder Richie Ludwig set up both goals for the Wolves. Getting the goals were junior Dylan Walker and junior Jacob Murray, who scored on a header.
Romeo (8- 5- 3) nearly scored in the first half. Senior senior Austin Taseski volleyed a free kick that crossed the goal mouth.
“I think if we scored there it might have made a difference because we would have forced them to play from behind,” said Romeo coach Vincent Vasilevski. “We did a good job defensively keeping them from creating great chances and we found a way to go into the half 0-0. But (Clarkston is) a good team and they controlled play. They deserved to win. They are one of the best teams we have faced all season and they deserved to win. We only had a couple of chances of our own and we didn’t finish.”
Clarkston senior goalkeeper Mason Walsh recorded a second-half save for his third straight shutout and seventh overall.
LUTHERAN NORTH 3, ARMADA 0
Better start studying, Mustangs.
The Lutheran North Mustangs have another (district) final to get ready for. They will face the survivor of Marlette-Harbor Beach at 5 p.m., Friday, at Richmond.
Volleyball
FRASER 27-21-25-25-19, L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH 2925-22-19-6
Forget the fight songs from both schools. The background music should have been Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
It was definitely an outstanding five-set MAC crossover match.
Leading the victorious Ramblers were Madison Grace, who went 16-of-17 serving, had nine points, two aces, 18 kills, three blocks and 17 digs; Erica Gregory with 34-34 serving, 21 points, four aces and 19digs; Cassidy Victor 14-15 serving, four points and 2 aces, three solo blocks and 19 digs; as well as Paige Slone 18-18 serving with nine points and an ace and 28 assists.
Fraser improved to 13-2 overall.
LUTHERAN NORTH 25-2525, EVEREST COLLEGIATE 12-5-10
It’s time to take another gallop poll: There are not many teams better than the Lutheran North Mustangs.
The Mustangs have played 20 matches this season and lost only one.
Lutheran North (19-1) welcomed Yale for Senior Night Tuesday.
The victory over Everest came in a Catholic League quarter final contest. Emma Leinberger finished with four aces. Julia Valenti managed 10 kills. Kiley Comiskey also had 10 kills. Delaney Beckett had four kills and Kaylee Lathrop registered 14 assists.
PARKWAY CHRISTIAN 25-25-25, FITZGERALD 23-13-11
An AARP card was not necessary for admission, but Senior Night proved to be quite entertaining for both the Parkway Christian Eagles and their fans.
They were led by seniors Emily Rudzinski (19 assists and 3 aces), Olivia Joye (15 digs and 5 kills) and Corinne Perry (6 aces and 16 digs). Caroline Schlaf had 12 kills, 10 aces and 8 digs. Hadley Schaefer added 5 kills and 3 aces.
ARMADA 25-23-25-27, ALMONT 16-25-17-25
Anika Prisby helped lead the Tigers to victory by accumulating 13 kills and 11 blocks. Brooke Niebauer had 10 kills, six digs and a block. Liv DeBacker finished with nine kills and three aces. Emily Hanes had 15 digs, five kills, two assists and three aces.
Swimming
ROMEO 103, FRASER 76 200 FREESTYLE RELAY: Fraser (Kaitlyn Paszek, Lauren Lamb, Isabella Black, Anna Holloway) 2:16.55. 200 FREESTYLE: Quinn Savage, F, 2:17.51. 200 IM: Milana Srbinovski, R, 2:39.67. 50 FREESTYLE: Paige Jones, R, 28.59. DIVING: Ciara Young, R, 147.85.100 BUTTERFLY: Milana Srbinovski, R, 1:15.44. 100 FREESTYLE: Lauren Lamb, F, 1:04.12. 500 FREESTYLE: Quinn Savage, F, 6:07.68. 200 FREESTYLE RELAY: (Milana Srbinovski, Meghan Rossell, Maja Nikolovski, Paige Jones) 1:56.57. 100 BACKSTROKE: Elizabeth Bednard, R, 1:14.16. 100 BREASTSTROKE: Gabriela Montalvo, R, 1:23.16. 400 FREESTYLE RELAY: Romeo (Milana Srbinovski, Meghan Rossell, Elizabeth Bednard, Paige Jones) 4:24.03.