Stoney Creek continues to build, advances to D2 regional final with 7-4 win over OLSM
The Stoney Creek boys lacrosse team celebrates following its 7-4win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in a Division 2 regional semifinal at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep on Wednesday.
It’s not easy to see the final product when the foundation is being built.
After four years of build- ing, the Stoney Creek boys lacrosse program is ready to see the fruits of its efforts.
Coach Tyler Kilpatrick took over the program from the bottom floor and turned a four-win team in 2019 into league champions and regional finalists in 2022.
The next step of the building project is to collect the program’s first regional championship.
The Cougars will have the opportunity to do that next week following Wednesday’s 7-4 victory over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the D2 regional semifinals at Notre Dame Prep.
“We are building and building and building. I think our team is pretty confident right now and we just beat a really good team. There’s just 16 teams still playing at this point (in Division 2) and we are one of them,” Kilpatrick said. “The big difference with this team is we are very unselfish. We have a lot of guys that don’t get a lot of stats because they are always making the unselfish plays.”
That unselfishness showed in Wednesday’s victory.
Photos and more at: After trailing 3-2 after one period, the Cougars (12-4) collectively got on the same page at both ends of the field.
The defense held the Eaglets (7-12) scoreless for the next two quarters while four different Cougars accounted for five straight goals and put them in control for the rest of the contest.
“We were a bit one-dimensional a few years ago, but now we have built a team where anyone can score and we have a lot of great defensive players,” Stoney Creek senior defenseman and captain Sam McDermott said. “It’s a real complete team and everyone plays for one another.”
The Eaglets were able to establish the early lead thanks to two goals from senior Luke Rice and another from junior Gabe Thayer, but the offense stalled from there. When OLSM had scoring opportunities, they struggled to get shots on net.
“We beat ourselves a lot. We just make stupid mistakes here and there that really turn the tide of a game,”
OLSM coach Greg Durham said. “You can’t make mistakes against a good team like that, because (Stoney Creek) can capitalize. They are a really quick team with a lot of athleticism. We have talented kids, but we just couldn’t get the shots off like we needed to.”
Stoney Creek’s five-goal rally lasted 33:29 of play and included a pair of goals in the final minute of the second and third quarter, respectively.
Sophomore Zach Morin scored with 44 seconds left in the first half to break a 3-3 tie and give the Cougars the lead for good. Sophomore Hughston Hurt would then score a dagger with just 3.6 seconds left in the third to put Stoney Creek ahead 7-3 going into the fourth.
With the lead, the Stoney Creek defense locked in behind the play of McDermott, who helped keep the Eaglets from getting good looks at the net.
“Sam McDermott is a really, really good player and he settled in our whole defense,” Kilpatrick said of his senior captain. “He’s one of the best defenders in the state and is proving that each game.”
Cougar junior goalie Jerome Quinn also had a strong performance with nine saves in the game.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s would cut the lead to three with 5:48 to play off a goal from senior Mason Mohr, but the Eaglets couldn’t get any closer.
“We have 17 juniors coming back, so we are going to be bringing a lot back and should be hungry,” Durham said. “I am proud of the guys. I love my guys, they are a great group of kids. They put in a lot of work this year.”
Hurt and junior Tyler Burns each scored twice for the Cougars in the win. Junior Jonah McKay and sophomore Sam Fogler also scored.
Stoney Creek will now face Cranbrook-Kingswood in the D2 regional final next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. from Notre Dame Prep.
Last season, the Cougars reached the regional final and suffered a 16-1 defeat. This time around, Stoney Creek knows it’s a much different team.
“Last year we got to the regional final and that was a big deal for us, but we weren’t ready for that moment yet,” said McDermott. “This year, I think we are ready. It’s something we’ve all been thinking about and working toward. We want to bring that first lacrosse trophy to Stoney Creek and I think we can do it.”