Stoney Creek cruises past rookie Adams to earn date with Cranbrook

ON THE MOVE: Rochester Stoney Creek's Brianna Johnson (right) slips past Rochester Adams' Marisa Iaderosa during Saturday's Division 2 pre-regional. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

TROY — Rochester Stoney Creek and Rochester Adams competed as Rochester United in girls lacrosse a year ago. This season, the two split up.

In its wake of the breakup a friendly rivalry has been born.

The new-found separation continued for the third time this in a Division 2 pre-regional at Troy Athens Saturday, with Stoney Creek earning a 11-6 victory over Adams, its third over the Highlanders this season.

Stoney Creek advance to next Tuesday’s regional semifinal against second-ranked Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, which dispatched Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 19-5, in Saturday’s first regional quarterfinal.

“It’s a competitive, fun rivalry,” said Stoney Creek coach Haley Noonan. “I know most of their girls were on the JV last year or freshmen, but some of them know each other.”

Adams (1-14-0) led 2-1 early before Stoney Creek opened the floodgates. The Cougars (8-5-0) scored six straight to end the first half and lead 7-2. Ariel Niederhauser and Jacqueline Cox each scored two goals each in the first-half outburst for Stoney Creek.

OPEN SPACE: Rochester Adam' Vivian Lin gliades down the field during Saturday's11-6 loss to Rochester Stoney Creek. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Stoney Creek, which defeated Adams 15-8 and 12-9 in two regular season, scored twice in the first eight minutes of the second half to go up 9-3 and never allowed the Highlanders to make a serious threat down the stretch.

Abigail Dickinson and Olivia Salmon helped stake Adams to a 2-1 lead. The young Highlanders could not sustain the momentum.

“We’ve played a lot of teams twice and we’ve seen a major improvement, “said Adams coach Ashley Howald. “There were some teams that we played the first time and hey killed us. The second time it was a lot closer.”

Adams had just three players with any varsity experience and only four seniors — two which start.

“We’ll return just about everybody next year. We only lose two starters,” added Howald. “We hope our second season is much better.”

Rochester Adams netminder Emily Smith awaits the shot during Saturday's pre-regional with Rochester Stoney Creek. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Greta Meloff, Marisa Iaderose, Mackenzie Soma and Carly Guidice also scored for Adams.

Brianna Johnson finished the day with three goals and one assist to pace the victorious Cougars. Cox and Niederhauser both had two goals, while Nina Grubba, Meghan Moore, Haley Baker and Lauren Dutchik scored for Stoney Creek, which has earned a date against one of the premier teams in Michigan lacrosse lore.

Cranbrook has reached the Final Four several times between the coaches association state tournament and the MHSAA state tournament (which began in 2005) over the years.

“They beat Notre Dame Prep pretty good and we beat Notre Dame, so we hope we can have a good showing against them,” said Noonan.

BLOCKADE: Rochester Stoney Creek's Haley Baker (left) finds the pathway to the goal blokced by Rochester Adams' Marisa Iaderosa. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

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Tags: girls lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse regionals

Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek