Northville overcomes epic Cotter effort to advance to Elite Eight

 Northville overcomes epic Cotter effort to advance to Elite Eight

Northville’s defense was set up in multiple layers to contain Salem superstar Mileena Cotter.

Northville’s deep and talented girls lacrosse team galloped into the MHSAA Division 1 Elite Eight Tuesday night, advancing despite an epic farewell performance by one of the greatest female lacrosse players Michigan has ever seen.

Salem senior Mileena Cotter, who is taking her exceptional LAX skills to Syracuse University in the fall, scored 16 goals after slithering through layers of Mustang defenders on multiple attacks and rocketing lasers into tiny, unguarded openings in the net.

Cotter’s effort fell just short in an 18-17 Northville victory that was fueled by outstanding play by its multitude of dynamic players, most notably sophomores Molly Wierengo and Addison Gubing; and senior goalie Madison Gugala.

Two minutes after Cotter knotted the match at 17-all with 4:22 left in the game, Gubing netted the game-winner with a blazing shot from close range.

Wierengo iced the victory by winning the ensuing face-off. Northville then played keep-away until a Salem steal with 15 seconds left, but the Rocks were unable to construct a game-tying attack.

Northville marched on to play Brighton in Saturday’s 11 a.m. Regional final at Novi High School. The Bulldogs upended the Mustangs, 17-6, in the two teams’ lone regular-season encounter.

To check out video highlights of Tuesday night’s game, click here.

Mustangs reign in the rain

In a game played through a steady rain, Wierengo tallied eight goals while Gubing netted five. The winners’ remaining net-finders were registered by Miranda Link (two), Annabelle Bednarz and Karissa Dahring.

Northville's xxxx and Salem's Kaitlyn Courtney pursue a loose ball
Northville freshman Anabelle Bednarz and Salem senior Kaitlyn Courtney pursue a loose ball

With the Mustangs owning a 13-9 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter, the official scorekeepers corrected the score to 14-9, a correction Salem’s bench and fans vehemently protested.

A reporter covering the game had Northville with 13 goals at that point. Despite the protests, the 14th goal was upheld by the referees.

Salem, which lost to Northville, 20-10, on April 15, opened the game on fire, surging to a 5-1 lead in the first eight minutes courtesy of four Cotter goals and one by Kaitlyn Courtney, who was assisted by Danika Denhof.

Unfazed, the Mustangs seized the momentum by cutting its deficit to 6-4 at the conclusion of the first quarter on goals from Gubing and Wierengo (two).

Mustangs dominate 2nd quarter

Taking advantage of Salem penalties, Northville owned the second 12-minute stanza, outscoring the Rocks 6-0 to seize a 10-6 halftime lead. Wierengo netted three straight in a span of six minutes to give Northville its first lead, 7-6, before Dahring, Link and Gubing closed the half with goals.

Mileenea Cotter unleashes a shot surrounded by Northville defenders.
Mileenea Cotter unleashes a shot surrounded by Northville defenders

Northville’s All-State goalie Gugala contributed a slick save on a Cotter shot to help maintain the Mustangs’ edge.

Thanks to seven Cotter goals in the third quarter alone, Salem trailed just 14-13 heading into the final dramatic 12 minutes.

Back-and-forth classic

After Cotter won the fourth-quarter face-off and cruised down the field to knot the game at 14-all with 11:49 left, Gubing answered off a sweet pass by Link to help the Mustangs regain a 15-14 advantage.

The game’s final minutes were a frenzy of clutch goals, timely defensive stops and ultimately a triumphant face-off by Wierengo that proved to be the deal-sealer.

Addison Gubing looks for an open teammate during the fourth quarter
Addison Gubing looks for an open teammate during the fourth quarter

Salem junior goalie Madison Ramirez was stellar throughout the contest, registering multiple point-blank saves.

As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard, Northville players rushed toward Gugala for a jubilant celebration.

At the same, Cotter walked off a high school field for the last time, no doubt exhausted, but satisfied she had exerted every ounce of her talent and energy to elevate the Rocks to a place the program had never been before.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4647 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.

Ed Wright

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