Wolves defeat Walled Lake Northern

By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
INDEPENDENCE TWP. — Clarkston Boys Varsity Lacrosse dominated the fourth quarter of their home game against Walled Lake Northern last Friday.
It began 34 seconds into the final stanza with a shot on the top of the Knights’ net by Kendall Makouen with an assist form Nick Ferman to bring the Wolves up 8-5.
Ellis York added another quick goal 12 seconds later. Clarkston went on to score seven more unanswered points before Walled Lake Northern scored two goals, ending the game with the Wolves winning 16-7 on senior night.
“It took a long time to get our legs under us,” said Clarkston Boys Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach Brian Kaminskas. “When it’s senior night, it’s youth night – you get distracted easily which is something we are working on. They just finally settled in and played. When they play, they play.”
The Wolves opened the night grabbing the lead in the first quarter with a goal from Tyler Pilarski a minute into the game.
Walled Lake Northern tied the game and the Wolves took the lead back with goals from Makouen and Lucas Diton, finishing the first quarter, 3-1.
“I am glad it was senior night,” Kaminskas said. “They got to be honored and got to enjoy themselves. But, I felt like we were slow and sloppy which is not where we want to be going before playoffs. But if it should happen, it should happen now.”
Diton led the team with three goals and six assists. Luke Darnell and Ferman each had three goals and one assist. Makouen had two goals and one assist. York had two goals and one assist. Ty Duffy, Charlie Formaro and Pilarski each had one goal. Parker Royse, Denny Wandrei and Joey Rottenberk each had one assist. Robert Haracic had 11 saves in the net.
“Joey played well,” Kaminskas added. “Our goalie, Robert, played pretty well, too.”
Clarkston lost to Forest Hills Central on May 8, 15-5. Darnell led with three goals. Diton and Ferman each had one goal and one assist. Royse and York each had one assist.
The Wolves opened the week with a 17-12 loss to Lake Orion, May 6. Diton had five goals and two assists. Darnell had three goals. York had two goals and two assists. Royse had two goals. Makouen had two assists.
Kaminskas added those two games will help as the team gets ready for the postseason.
“They are both good teams,” he said. “You play stronger teams, you get better. We certainly competed with Lake Orion. It was a game we thought we had in our grasp. Again, when we come out and play – it’s good. Those games just prepare you better and makes you better.”
The Wolves (10-7) closed the regular season this past Monday against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep.
Clarkston has a break until they play in the MHSAA Division 1 Boys Lacrosse Regional 4 Semifinal on May 24 at Troy High School, 5:30 p.m.
Kaminskas added the break will be beneficial.
“It will be nice because we are beat up a little bit,” he said. “We can work on different things, implement a few things and see where it takes us.”
He continued, adding the Wolves are likely to see Romeo again in the semifinals, who they beat by one goal on May 4. Depending on the outcome, the Wolves could see another familiar foe in the regional finals meeting up with Stoney Creek, another team they defeated by one goal.
“I think it’s going to be a fight but we are built for it,” Kaminskas said.