Central prevails in shootout, 8-7, with Northern Knights

In a matchup of the co-champions of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division, Walled Lake Central outlasted Walled Lake Northern in a shootout, 8-7, after their Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) district final match at West Bloomfield ended in a 1-1 tie.

Ricky Carter scored for the Knights in the first half before Bret Gustafson tied the match for the Vikings in the second half off an assist from Joey Miller on Friday, Oct. 19.

Danny Heyn also had eight saves in net for Central (12-6-2), which played against Traverse City Central in a Division 1 regional semi-final at Troy yesterday, Tuesday, Oct. 23 after press time.

The winner will face either Rochester Hills Stoney Creek or Grand Blanc in a regional final tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 25.

The Vikings and Knights met twice previously in the regular season, with both matches ending in 1-1 ties.

•

Two days earlier, the Knights advanced to the district final by eliminating West Bloomfield, 2-1, on the Lakers’ home field on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

That same day, Central eliminated Waterford Mott with a 2-0 victory as Saimin Hannah and Bryan Maxwell each scored for the Vikings while Heyn had eight saves in earning the clean sheet.

•

West Bloomfield, the champion of the Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Blue Division, started district play with a 4-0 shutout of Huron Valley Lakeland at home on Monday, Oct. 15 in an MHSAA Division 1 district quarter-final.

•

Waterford Mott defeated Waterford Kettering, 4-1, on Monday, Oct. 15 in an MHSAA Division 1 district quarter-final.

•

Walled Lake Western fell to South Lyon, 2-1, in an MHSAA Division 1 district semi-final at Pinckney on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

•

Huron Valley Milford fell in overtime to host Pinckney, 2-1, in an MHSAA Division 1 district quarter-final on Monday, Oct. 15.

•

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s fell in two overtimes to Bloomfield Hills Lahser, 3-2, in an MHSAA Division 2 district quarter-final on Monday, Oct. 15.