EPIC ENCOUNTER: Salem LAX nets dramatic 2OT win over Northville
A Salem player pushes the ball up the sideline during the second quarter of Monday’s 9-8 Rocks victory.
High school lacrosse doesn’t get much better than the drama that played out on the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park’s varsity turf field Monday night.
Salem (7-0) continued its resurgent season with a never-a-dull-moment 9-8 double-overtime victory over visiting Northville, which slipped to 3-2-1.
The Rocks and Mustangs were so evenly matched, neither team managed to secure more than a one-goal lead throughout the 54-minute-plus battle.
To check out video highlights from Monday’s game, click here.
Not surprisingly, the biggest difference-maker in a game packed with huge plays and big-time players was Salem senior Ryan Peters, who notched five goals thanks to his hard-to-defend footwork and laser-sharp shot placement.
It was Peters’ goal with 2 minutes and 22 seconds remaining in the second four-minute overtime that sealed the win for the Rocks, who engulfed Peters following his game-winner.
The Mustangs sent the game into overtime with a goal at the 1:10 mark of the fourth quarter — just 10 seconds after Salem goalie Charlie Barker preserved his team’s short-lived lead with a lightning-reflexes save on a shot from the doorstep.
Mustangs’ balanced attack
Northville’s first five goals were registered by five different players — a testament to the Mustangs balance.
Peters opened the scoring 2 minutes and 19 seconds into the game when he propelled an unassisted shot into the back of the net.
Northville answered five minutes later on Austin Alexander’s power-play goal.
The Mustangs earned a 2-1 advantage after the first quarter thanks to Kaimi Hayami’s net-finder.
Undeterred, the Rocks bounced back with back-to-back goals from Jonathan Seeke, who was assisted by Peters and Jacob VanTol.
Northville regained the lead, 4-3, thanks to scoring plays by Daniel Borashko and Thomas Hinshaw, who stuffed in a shot just inside the right post.
Peters strikes again
The game’s back-and-forth rhythm persisted when Peters deadlocked the score at 4-all thanks to an assist from Andrew Sharp 3:13 before halftime.
The Mustangs carried a 5-4 lead into the break on a goal from Alexander Pearson, who was assisted by Alexander.
Salem’s defense ignited the goal that knotted the contest at 5-5 with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter. Sharp, a defender, separated the ball from a Northville attacker just outside the goal crease, lofted a perfect pass up the right sideline to Kai Prinzevski, who threaded a dime to Seeke.
Peters scored seconds later after securing a slick pass from Seeke.
Northville led 6-5 after three quarters when Pearson scored from Hayami.
Burlingame comes up big
The Rocks threatened to draw even at the 10:45 mark of the game, however Northville senior goalie Christopher Burlingame stonewalled Max Kehoe’s sizzling shot.
Salem fans didn’t have to sweat long, though, as Seeke rolled in a shot with 9:20 remaining to make it 6-all.
After the Mustangs earned a 7-6 lead with a goal with 7:49 to go in regulation, Salem roared back to seize an 8-7 edge thanks to goals from Prinzevski and Peters.
Peters’ double-overtime heroics gave Salem its best start in program history.
Both goalies — Barker and Burlingame — were both stellar between the pipes.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
