MHSAA Division 1 boys lacrosse: Detroit Catholic Central pulls off comeback over Hartland

It turned out to be a banner day for Novi Detroit Catholic Central athletics.

On the heels of its golf team earning another state title earlier in the day, the Shamrocks hoisted another trophy Saturday afternoon by winning the Division 1 boys lacrosse title with a 14-8 victory over Hartland at the University of Michigan.

Catholic Central, trailing 6-3 at halftime, stormed back in the second half to subdue the Eagles, who were coming off a dramatic 11-10 state semifinal overtime victory on Thursday over 16-time D1 champion Birmingham Brother Rice.

Sophomore attack Luke Zajdel helped spearhead the second-half comeback as he finished with five goals as CC (21-3) captured its second state crown in school history after finishing runner-up last year to Rice.

Junior attack Lachlan Moffatt chipped with three goals as the Shamrocks outscored Hartland, 11-2, over the final 24 minutes.

Catholic Central held a huge advantage in winning faceoffs going 21 of 25, including 14-for-14 in the final two periods. The Shamrocks also outshot Hartland, 57-25, and won the ground ball battle, 46-19.

MORE STATE TITLES: Detroit Country Day lacrosse convincing in Division 2 final

Hartland (19-4), the 2022 D1 champion, couldn’t ask for a better start, taking a 3-0 first-period lead on unassisted goals by Easton Culver and Dylan Ayotte, along with one by Connor Gilbert (from Drew Lockwood).

In the second period, Catholic Central ended a 14-minute, 34-second scoring drought on a goal by Zajdel (from Jack Smiley) to cut the deficit to 3-1 with 9:26 left.

But the Eagles maintained their three-goal advantage, 6-3, at halftime on goals by Jacob Ross (unassisted), Lockwood (from Culver) and Clayton Penzien (from Lockwood).

CC countered with two goals, by Francisco Williams (unassisted) and Ryan Dye (from Conner Lukas).

But the third quarter belonged to the Shamrocks, who outscored Hartland, 6-1, on two goals apiece by Matthew Aleva and Zajdel, coupled with one each by Laclan Moffatt and Williams.

Meanwhile, Hartland’s lone third period goal came from Ayotte (unassisted) to make it 7-5 with 6:31 to play in the half.

The Catholic Central offensive assault continued in the final period as Zajdel and Moffatt each scored twice, while Lukas contributed another goal and assist (along with Smiley).

Meanwhile, Max Kotsilidis scored for Hartland.

Hartland freshman goalie Nate Anderer was spectacular throughout the match making a total of 19 saves, while his counterpart Tyler Lammers of CC made 11.

Catholic Central’s other state title came in 2018. The Shamrocks have been state runner-up nine times.