By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
WATERFORD — For the second time in the season, the Clarkston Girls Varsity Lacrosse team was victorious over Waterford United.
The Wolves defeated Waterford United in the pre-regional game at Waterford Kettering, 18-9, May 17.
Melanie Alnaraie, head coach for Clarkston, admitted it wasn’t easy as the game came at the end of playing three games in a row with a loss to Rochester Adams on May 14, 19-14; and a win over Rochester on May 15, 5-4.
“We were exhausted,” Alnaraie shared. “We are tired – that’s the truth. Three games in a row is a lot of work and they weren’t easy games. But, we were focused. We were motivated. We wanted this. Last year Waterford beat us in the playoff first game. We played them earlier in the season and we won but it was important to go in with the mentality that we have to work hard. They are going to come back stronger so we will have to come back stronger than them and we did.”
Waterford United opened the night taking a shot on the Wolves’ net in the first 27 seconds and were stopped by senior goalie Bella Brykailo.
Clarkston responded by scoring five goals in the next seven minutes with goals from senior Giana Kraatz, junior Kate Spiro, freshman Aubrey Farner and sophomore Claire Naboychik.
Waterford United scored two goals with less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Wolves added two more to the score as well with Naboychik scoring her third goal for a hat trick and a goal from junior Aubrey Reineck in the last minute.
Waterford United closed the gap in the second quarter outscoring Clarkston 3-2.
“We were a little sloppy in the second quarter, but we picked it back up,” Alnaraie said. “We were getting in our own heads. We were starting to settle. We focused on what we learned in practice, learned this week in our games and we put it into motion here.”
Waterford United opened the third quarter with a goal. The Wolves struck back scoring three goals to build onto their lead.
Sophomore Sydney Fischer, Kraatz and Naboychik led the team, each with three goals. Freshman Mia Tolkachier and Reineck each had two goals.
Senior Anna Reineck, sophomore Isabella Garcia and sophomore Jillion Benson each scored one goal in the second half.
“Claire had a great game,” Alnaraie said. “She had multiple goals. Jillian had her first goal on varsity today – that one was a big one for us. Bella had some really good saves in net. All around everyone did something good – everyone played, everyone contributed. I am proud of all of them.”
Clarkston (8-8) played Grand Blanc (12-7-1) in the first round of the MHSAA Division 1 Girls Lacrosse Region 4 playoffs and lost 6-2
“It will be a tough game,” said Alnaraie, before the game, adding the Wolves’ season opener was against the Bobcats. “They beat us by quite a bit, but we have grown a lot and we proved it. We have worked hard. From game one to now we are a completely different team then we were 4-6 weeks ago. We know it’s going to be hard. We are going to hold our heads up high and see what happens. I know Grand Blanc is going to be ready to play. We have a long week of practice ahead of us to prepare for it.”

  Clarkston Athletics, Girls Lacrosse