West Oakland/Livingston
BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
BRIGHTON — After a pair of seasons with no championships, Brighton is back on the rise.
This fall, the unranked Bulldogs won their first district crown since 2012 with a 4-3, double-overtime, victory over Milford and a 2-1 triumph over Walled Lake Northern in the district final.
Brighton’s last district championship season three years ago saw the Bulldogs fall in the regional semifinal round to state powerhouse East Kentwood in double overtime, 2-1.
The Bulldogs’ best season came back in 1998, when they reached the Division state title match before falling to Novi.
Brighton also reached the state semifinal round in 1992, 2001, 2002, and 2005.
The Bulldogs carried a 10-7-3 record into the regional this season. They finished second in the KLAA-West behind overall KLAA champ Grand Blanc.
LAKELAND ON RISE
Although Lakeland failed to win its district, the Eagles did capture the KLAA-North Division, in what is believed to be the first league title in program’s 29-year history.
Lakeland began its soccer program in 1987.
This year, the Eagles finished a respectable 13-6-2 overall and 8-1-1 in KLAA-North play. Lakeland did become an upset victim in its only Division 1 postseason game, falling to arch-rival Milford, 4-3, in a redistrict contest.
The Eagles finished with eight shutouts and, more importantly, garnered some respect by reaching No. 18 in the Division 1 coaches poll this season — the first time Lakeland has ever been ranked in the state in soccer.
WALLED LAKE NORTHERN FIGHTS TOOTH AND NAIL
After spending most of the past three seasons ranked in Division 1, Walled Lake Northern struggled through a rebuilding year in 2015.
The Knights fought tooth and nail to finish above .500 and finished third in the KLAA-North behind Lakeland and Walled Lake Central.
Northern still reached the district final before succumbing to Brighton, 2-1.
CLARKSTON RESPONDS
Clarkston had one of its best seasons in 2014, finishing third in the OAA Red Division and making it to the regional final in Division 1 before falling in a shootout to Rochester Adams.
This season, despite graduating eight starters and losing perhaps their best player to the Vardar Academy, the Wolves still finished a fine 17-4-5.
Clarkston put together an eight-game winning streak, which ended in the district final to Grand Blanc.
Two years ago, Clarkston upset Grand Blanc in the district final when the Bobcats were unbeaten and ranked second.
The Wolves overcame a slow start to earn a co-championship with Adams in the talent-laden OAA Red Division this season.
NO. 1 CURSE
Behind its consistent play in the regular season, Northville chalked up a fine 16-2-1 record, a KLAA-Central Division title, and a berth in the KLAA championship match.
Northville finished 9-0-1 in the KLAA-Central Division, with its only blemish a 1-1 tie against Livonia Stevenson when the Spartans were still ranked in the top 20 in Division 1. Northville also lost regular season games to state-ranked Saline, 2-1, and to Grand Blanc in the KLAA final , 3-2.
The Mustangs defeated several top-20 schools, including two wins over defending state champion Plymouth Canton in the regular season.
SHAMROCKS ROLLING
Detroit Catholic Central spent the entire season ranked in the top five in Division 1, including a month in the pole position.
The Shamrocks won the CHSL Central Division this season, only to fall in an upset to Brother Rice in the CHSL Tournament Final.
Catholic Central made up for the tounament loss by winning a district championship. It defeated then-top-ranked Northville, 2-1 in a shootout, and Walled Lake Central to win its first district since 2013 and its ninth overall.
The Shamrocks carried a 19-2-1 record into the regional round.
MACS HONORS
Since departing the Association of Christian Schools International state tournaments five years ago, West Highland Christian Academy has found plenty of success in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools state tournaments.
The Mustangs finished as the state runners-up in both 2013 and 2014 in the MACS Division II state tournament, falling to Grace Baptist Christian in the 2013 final and to Oakdale Academy in the 2014 final.
West Highland and Oakdale are on opposite ends of this year’s MACS Division II bracket and join Immanuel Christian School and Juniata Christian School in this year’s Final Four.
Oakdale is only in its third season as a school.