BOYS LACROSSE: OAA-White champion Rochester Adams gearing for postseason run
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
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ROCHESTER HILLS — Michael Torriglia knew some of the players on the Rochester Adams boys lacrosse team through the club circuit.
So when he earned the head coaching job earlier this school year, he figured the Highlanders would be competitive.
The 29-year-old Birmingham Brother Rice graduate walked into a unit that has posted the best regular season record in program history.
Adams finished 14-3-0 in the regular season, captured the OAA White Division league title at 7-0 and heads into the postseason with some confidence.
“I was familiar with some of them through a couple of different club teams, so I knew when I got the job that Adams had some talent,” noted Torriglia. “I didn’t know that we could be 14-3 entering the (regionals).”
Adams enters MHSAA Division 1 regional play seeded third within its regional with its only losses coming against quality teams. The Highlanders’ three losses have all been close, as defeats to Bloomfield Hills (9-4), Troy (13-7) and Troy Athens (6-4) have all come against state-ranked teams from the OAA Red Division.
“The Athens game was really close and the Bloomfield Hills game we were down 4-0 in the first quarter and we were even with them after that point,” said Torriglia. “We have not been blown out in our three losses.”
Adams has emerged as an offensive juggernaught and have put up some sterling defensive numbers along the way as well.
Senior defenseman Bryce Salmon has led a young defensive unit ion mostly underclassmen in the backfield. On offense, the Highlanders are explosive.
Junior midfielder Will Ronan is a returning All-State and leads the Highlanders in total points and assists. Senior attack Mitchell Shell is the team’s top goal scorer and junior attack Reed Vogt is third on the team in points. Ronan and Shell have both scored over 50 goals and Vogt has notched over 30 goals this season.
“Will leads us in assists and in total points and is one of our leaders on offense,” said Torriglia. “Mitchell is a pure goal-scorer. He just puts his head down and goes towards the cage with the mindset of scoring. Reed has been steady all season, scoring ton of goals for us. We have a lot of other guys who can score as well.”
Sophomore goalie Andy Gross has been the Highlanders biggest surprise.
“I think if there is one major surprise it’s Andy Gross. We didn’t have an experienced goalie at the beginning of the season, but he stepped up and won the job and has been solid for us all season,” praised Torriglia.
Senior midfielder Trent Dalton and junior midfielders Carlo Munaco and Mitchell Martin have also been steady performers for the Highlanders.
Adams has outscored the opposition by a commanding 227-88 margin. The Highlanders have pitched one shutout and have played in six games where they have yielded three or less goals to the opposition.
The going will get much tougher for Adams in the regional. The Highlanders will have to win three games, including likely matches with No. 2-seeded Bloomfield Hills and top-seeded Lake Orion if they are to advance out of the regional and into the Elite Eight.
“We’ve come a long ways since (March),” said Torriglia. “I think if we can face Bloomfield Hills again (in the regional semifinals) we can give them a good game. I think the guys would love a shot of beating them and I think we would love a shot at Lake Orion, too, if we can get there. Lake Orion has been very good the last few years. I don’t think these guys want to quit playing right now. They have really come together.”
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