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Lax Regional Finals on MHSAA.tv
May 22, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
Plans have been finalized for broadcasting live streaming video of Lacrosse Regional Semifinals at two sites next week on MHSAA.tv.
On Tuesday (May 26), the Division 2-Region 6 Boys Lacrosse Semifinal games at Okemos High School will be streamed live, with DeWitt (11-6) facing Haslett/Williamston (9-9) in the opening game at 5:30 p.m. followed by the host Okemos Chiefs (14-2) taking on Portage Northern (13-7) in the nightcap at 7.
Then Wednesday (May 27), the Division 1-Region 4 Girls Lacrosse Semifinal games at Lake Orion High School will be televised, with Midland Dow (12-0) vs. Hartland (11-5) in the first game at 5:30 p.m. and the second game featuring Lake Orion (11-4) against Waterford Kettering (2-10-1) at 7 p.m.
The games at Okemos feature the top three seeded teams in the region. Top-ranked Okemos will be facing fifth-seeded Northern for the first time this season, while second-seeded Haslett/Williamston and third-seeded DeWitt will be playing for the third time. DeWitt won each of the first two games by a single goal.
Hartland and Midland Dow are the fifth and seventh-ranked teams, respectively, in Division 2 Laxpower.com rankings. None of the four girls semifinalists have squared off against each other this season.
The games are being produced by MHSAA members participating in the School Broadcast Program. The games at Okemos will be produced by Haslett High School, and the games at Lake Orion will be covered by Davison High School.
The games are available live and for the following 72 hours on a subscription basis on MHSAA.tv, and are part of a promotion allowing subscribers to follow three weekends of MHSAA spring tournament action with a special all-access pass being offered by the NFHS Network.
Between now and June 15, the NFHS Network is offering its Month Pass for just $9.95, 33 percent off the normal retail price. The pass will provide access to more than 100 hours of live programming of spring Finals. Click here to take advantage of this offer.
Finals coverage begins on May 30, with live coverage of the running events at the MHSAA Track & Field Finals. Here’s the complete spring Finals live streaming schedule:
- May 30 – Track Finals – Running events – Rockford (L.P. Div. 1), Zeeland (L.P. Div. 2), Comstock Park (L.P. Div. 3, Hudsonville (L.P. Div. 4), Kingsford (U.P.) – Coverage begins at 10 a.m.
- June 6 – Lacrosse Finals – Rockford (Girls), TBA (Boys – Games will be at Troy Athens, Howell or East Grand Rapids – Site announced after Semifinals) – Two games at each site, coverage begins at 2 p.m.
- June 11-13 – Baseball-Softball Semifinals & Finals – Michigan State University – Four games in each sport-each day, coverage begins at 9 a.m. each day
- June 12-13 – L.P. Girls Soccer Finals – Michigan State University – Two games each day, beginning at 1 p.m.
Plans for other pre-Finals event coverage by SBP schools is pending. Coverage will be announced as arrangements are confirmed.
The School Broadcast Program, powered by PlayOn! Sports, is a platform which schools can utilize to reach members of their community about activities taking place in their buildings, providing recognition for students while at the same time giving them hands-on opportunities to gain broadcasting experience and providing schools an opportunity to realize additional revenues for their programs. Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office.
![Brighton's Cecilia Mainhardt (18) considers her next pass while Northern/Eastern's Julia Kozal (6) and Logan Kirkwood (11) defend.](/sites/default/files/2023-06/236010_D1g_2H.png)
Brighton Proves Rebuild Successfully Complete with D1 Repeat
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
June 10, 2023
ROCKFORD – The Brighton girls lacrosse team found the ideal way to avoid the revenge trap: Just do your homework and play defense.
That's the combination the Bulldogs utilized to successfully defend its Division 1 title in Saturday's 8-6 win over top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern at Rockford High School.
The championship came after Brighton outlasted the BirdDogs 12-11 in overtime in last year's Final.
But instead of allowing Forest Hills Northern/Eastern to avenge last year's loss, Brighton smothered an offense which had ended the regular season with eight straight games of double-digit scoring while averaging more than 14 goals over five tournament games.
Brighton junior goalie Gabrielle Buckenberger said the championship was a result of preparation and defense. As a result, the Bulldogs knew exactly what to expect from the BirdDogs, specifically the fine-tuning of switching on defense and knowing who the FHN/E scorers were.
"We watched a lot of film to prepare ourselves," said Buckenberger, who faced just 11 shots and made six saves. "We tried to go in confidently. For me, I knew if I didn't play my best, my teammates would.
"We've been practicing our defense, and it’s been great all year. We put in the effort and the discipline, and we took time to listen to our defensive coaches and what we learned, we embraced."
The defense was most evident during the second half. Down 5-4 at the break, Brighton (17-8-1) was still behind 6-5 on a FHN/E goal by Mia Dye with 17:23 left. But Brighton's Ella Toth tied the game with 14:51 left, and Brighton then sealed it on goals by Kaia Malachino and Georgia Gill over the final 9:16.
Neither team managed more than a one-goal lead until Gill's with 3:36 left.
Gill, Toth and Lauren Zaccagni all scored twice for Brighton, which lost seven key seniors from last year's champion. A young Brighton team managed just a 2-4 record through the first six games. Included over the last three weeks was a 12-10 loss to Division 2 runner-up East Grand Rapids and a 6-6 tie with FHN/E.
Brighton coach Ashton Peters agreed that the win was all about defense. The six goals was only one from FHN/E's season low of five against Forest Hills Central.
"Our defense was unbelievable. We said all year that our defense was the best it's ever been. We've been focusing on communication and being in possession," Peters said.
"(At the start of this season) we knew there was a gap we had to close. We came in having played a tough schedule, and we knew it was pretty much a rebuilding team that had to trust the process. We had a (four-game) losing streak, and I don't think the players cared about that."
Gill said her teammates were aware of the modest expectations facing the club.
"We definitely had our doubters, people who thought we were going to be toast," she said. "But we trusted the coaches and each other, and the process worked out for us."
BirdDogs coach Joe Curcuru, whose team saw its 12-game winning streak snapped, said the Bulldogs' defense was exceptional.
"We battled hard but just came up a couple goals short," he said. "Brighton's defense was terrific. They slid well behind the ball, and their on-ball defense was great. They also had the ball a lot. I think you'll see the time of possession was pretty strong in their favor. We battled, but in the end we couldn't get the ball in the net."
PHOTOS (Top) Brighton's Cecilia Mainhardt (18) considers her next pass while Northern/Eastern's Julia Kozal (6) and Logan Kirkwood (11) defend. (Middle) FHN/E goalie Sommer-Jo Grieser stops a shot by the Bulldogs' Lauren Zaccagni (10). (Below) Players from both teams scramble for the ball during Saturday's Division 1 Final. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)