Adams cruises past Clarkston for district championship
HEADS UP: Rochester Adams' Macy Houghtlin (No. 7) and the Highlanders captured a district championship Saturday with a 5-0 win over Clarkston. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
LAKE ORION — Since losing in the league-title deciding math three weeks ago, Rochester Adams has turned its attention to another important matter: making a return trip to the final Four.
The Highlanders completed the latest step Saturday at Lake Orion,
Adams is 6-0-1 since the loss to Troy Athens, which won the OAA Red Division, and has won both state tournament games. Two days after blanking Rochester Stoney Creek,4-0, in the district semifinals, the Highlanders defended their district crown with a 5-0 shutout Clarkston at Lake Orion.
“Our goal was to win the district and I thought we played well in both of our district games,” offered Adams coach Aaron Donaghy, whose team outscored its district foes 9-0. “You never know having to play teams in your league in the state tournament again. It’s never easy.”
Adams will face Troy at 6p.m.Tuesday in the regional semifinals at Lake Orion. Grand Blanc and Midland Dow will face off in the other game.
The Highlanders, who have bounced around the Division 1 top 10 polls all season and are now 15-2-3 playing a difficult schedule, didn’t waste any time dispatching Clarkston, a team Adams has now faced in the district finals six of the past 12 years, including both last year and this season. The Highlanders led 4-0n at the half in the scorching heat to oust Clarkston (9-8-2), a team depleted by injuries and player suspensions.
“Clarkston is always going to play you hard. I felt bad that they had some players who were not there,” said Donaghy. “There were some kids who chose the prom over their team (for the district semifinals) and that hurt them. They did play us hard and you have to give them credit.”
Adams, which collected its 12th shutout of the season coming from the hands of Jessica Wineke and a strong defensive unit anchored by Brittany Buckler, scored in the first 10 minutes off a goal from Kelsey Treanore.
That opened the floodgates, as MacKenzie Barber, Hannah Lee and Merlin Beckwith scored in succession as Adams built its four-goal lead at the half.
Treanore capped the scoring with a goal in the second half, where temperatures rose to the mid-90s.
Clarkston only had four shots on net, as the depleted Wolves failed to counter on the Highlanders, who entered the postseason ranked 10th.
Now, the Highlanders have to get past No. 4 Troy (16-2-2) if they are to play for the regional championship. Adams and Troy tied in a league game in April, but Troy defeated the Highlanders 1-0 in a contest in early May.
“It’s going to be two very good teams playing each other,” said Donaghy. “Troy is extremely talented and very organized and well-coached. Like it always is, I expect it’s going to be a very even game. And whoever wins is going to have to play either Midland Dow or Grand Blanc, tow other teams that always field good teams. It’s a very tough regional.”
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Category: Clarkston, High School, Rochester Adams
