Lakers claim Blue title; Eaglets split pair of matches

West Bloomfield split two matches this past week to clinch the Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Blue Division championship.

The Lakers (9-1, 27 points in the OAA Blue) began the week with a 1-0 loss at North Farmington on Tuesday, Oct. 2, marking their first division loss of the season.

However, West Bloomfield bounced back in a big way on Thursday, Oct. 4 with an 8-0 victory at Hazel Park to officially clinch the division.

The Lakers played their remaining division match yesterday, Tuesday, Oct. 9 after press time at home against Oxford, which is four points behind the Lakers in second-place with 23 points. Oxford can only hope for a runner-up finish in the division.

West Bloomfield will then host a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) district tournament beginning on Monday, Oct. 15.

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Orchard Lake St. Mary’s split two matches this past week, beginning with a 3-3 tie at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

The Eaglets finished in fourth-place in the six-team Detroit Catholic League AA Division with a 4-4-2 record, marking their best-ever finish in the division since the soccer program’s inception in 2007.

St. Mary’s then defeated Royal Oak Shrine, 1-0, at home on Friday, Oct. 5 on a goal by Brandon Fagnani with an assist from Bruno Strzelewicz in the first half.

The Eaglets honored their four senior players on Senior Night, including Fagnani, Strzelewicz, Bashar Said, and Alex Smith.

St. Mary’s will play at the Summit Academy tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 11 before playing in the MHSAA district tournament at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood beginning on Monday, Oct. 15.