Pioneer holds off Huron to advance to state semifinals in girls lacrosse
Pioneer's Sydney Reinholt, left, tries to take the ball away from Huron's Anna Masini during the lacrosse quarter finals game against Huron. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
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Pioneer's Sydney Reinholt, left, tries to take the ball away from Huron's Anna Masini during the lacrosse quarter finals game against Huron. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-01_fullsize.JPG
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Pioneer's Sophie Buchmueller looks for a pass down the field during the lacrosse quarter finals game against Huron. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-02_fullsize.JPG
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Huron's Taylor Standiford, right, chases down Pioneer's Andrea Reyes during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-03_fullsize.JPG
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Huron's Taylor Standiford, right, runs after Pioneer's Stephanie Terrell during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-04_fullsize.JPG
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Huron's Kelsey Gradwohl, left, tries to knock the ball out of the net of Pioneer's Caroline Hurd during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-05_fullsize.JPG
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Pioneer's Mercedes Reyes, right, runs after Huron's Kelsey Aaronson, during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-06_fullsize.JPG
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Huron lacrosse head coach Dan Madigan, left, yells to players on the field during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-07_fullsize.JPG
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Pioneer's Mercedes Reyes, left, tries to block Huron's Mariel Ward from progressing down the field during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-08_fullsize.JPG
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Pioneer's Mercedes Reyes, left, tries to block Huron's Taylor Standiford from moving down the field during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-09_fullsize.JPG
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The Huron fan section cheers after a goal was scored, closing the gap between Huron and Pioneer from 3 - 10 in the first half to 10 - 11 with 7 minutes to go during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-10_fullsize.JPG
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Huron's Kelsey Gradwohl, right, tries to block the path of Pioneer's Stephanie Terrell during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-11_fullsize.JPG
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Huron's Kelsey Gradwohl, right, blocks Pioneer's Nicole Derderian from moving toward the goal during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-12_fullsize.JPG
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Pioneer's Samantha Zwolan, left, tries to avoid Huron's Barbara Runstadier as she moves toward the goal during the lacrosse quarter finals game at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-13_fullsize.JPG
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The Pioneer lacrosse team cheers after winning the MHSAA quarter finals match against Huron, 10 - 11 at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-14_fullsize.JPG
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The Pioneer lacrosse team poses for a photo with their trophy after winning the MHSAA quarter finals match against Huron, 10 - 11 at South Lyon High School. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/!lacrosse/cache/060212-AJC-lacross-huron-vs-pioneer-quarter-finals-15_fullsize.JPG
With 12 minutes left to play in its girls lacrosse Division 1 regional final, Pioneer High School appeared to be cruising to victory over rival Huron.
The Pioneers led 11-5 and controlled play throughout the contest. The River Rats, however, would not go away and proceeded to score consecutive five goals over the next four minutes to cut the lead to one.
After the last goal, Pioneer called a timeout to regroup.
“We talked about staying mentally strong and, at that point, we had to stay strong,” said Pioneer coach Zachary Maghes.
The Pioneers maintained possession for the majority of the seven remaining minutes to win 11-10 and advance to play Hartland in a semifinal of the MHSAA tournament at 7 p.m. Wednesday at South Lyon High School.
SUPER SATURDAY
Poll: Vote for the top individual performance
D1 track finals: Training partners Cindy Ofili (Huron), Drake Johnson (Pioneer) shine; Ypsilanti sprinter Austin Sanders wins twice
Track roundup: Bryce Bradley wins 3,200 state title, leads Chelsea to 3rd place at D2 final
D1 tennis finals: Two Pioneer doubles teams battle back to claim championships
Tennis roundup: Greenhills' Kasey Gardiner, Colleen O'Brien sweep top spots at D4 finals
Water polo finals: Skyline tops Dexter in consolation game; Huron seventh
Soccer districts: Saline, Dexter, Father Gabriel Richard win girls soccer district titles
Baseball/softball districts: 4 county baseball teams claim titles, Milan lone softball winner
“They tend to shoot further out, so I was able to keep tracking the ball,” said Kruse. “With our practice I was able to track it better, so it was really a team effort.”
After their goalie helped keep the game close, Pioneer scored seven of the last eight goals of the first half to build a comfortable 10-3 halftime lead.
Sophie Buchmueller led the Pioneers with three goals. Samantha Zwolan, Allie Pardon and Mercedes Reyes scored two apiece. (Boxscore)
“We were just really focused. We focused on defense and possession and I felt like we were ready,” said Maghes.
Five minutes into the game, neither team held much of an advantage as the teams were tied at two, but the momentum was starting to turn in the River Rats' favor. That’s when Kruse’s play in net helped change the tide for the Pioneers.
“Her play was huge. The first time we played them, she didn’t make too many saves. She’s really come around the last two playoff games and (her play) was huge. That is so much momentum making those defensive saves,” Maghes said.
After allowing a quick goal early to open the second half, the River Rats' offense came alive.
“We just had to get back into playing our game,” said Huron coach Dan Madigan. “We let Pioneer dictate that first half and that got us behind. In the second half, we regrouped and decided to start playing our game again. We just fell one short, that’s all.”
Madigan said he couldn’t have been happier with the effort from his team, which got three goals from Taylor Standiford and a pair from Kelsey Aaronson, Anna Masini and Mariel Ward.
“I can’t ask for anything more from them, really,” said Madigan. “You can’t more proud of the girls.”
For Kruse and her teammates, beating one of their primary rivals made the victory even sweeter.
“Our first game against (Huron), we really struggled. So to take this away from them just feels amazing,” she said.
With Hartland on the horizon, Kruse said Pioneer will celebrate Saturday night and start getting ready for the Eagles on Sunday.
“We’re going to watch their film and see where they’re shooting, so I can work on those shots specifically," she said. "We’re all just going to have to keep that team mindset and know that we’re not done. This is just one more obstacle to climb.”