NORTHVILLE — Ashton Peters has coached three state championship girls lacrosse teams at Brighton and three others that were finals runners-up, but this year’s team may be her favorite.
She said as much to her players, even though they didn’t get out of their region following a 14-11 loss to South Lyon in a Division 1 regional championship game between the last two state champions on Saturday, May 30.
While state championships are incredible, and the Bulldogs work harder than most teams to achieve them, they’re not the bottom line in high school sports.
Peters expressed pride in the leadership of her 12 seniors, who helped six freshmen assimilate into one of the best programs in Michigan. Four of those seniors were a part of state championship teams in 2023 and 2024 before losing to a powerful South Lyon team in the last two regional finals.
“They mentored them and taught them what our program is about beyond just the game of lacrosse,” Peters said. “I’ve never been more proud as a coach. They taught their freshmen what it means to be a teammate, a strong confident woman. Those 12 seniors are going to make an insane difference in this world. I can walk away from this game knowing that’s more important than any state title ever.”
Among those senior leaders is all-state defender Abby Kissel, who was brought up from the varsity “B” team as a freshman and got playing time in some of the Bulldogs’ tougher nonleague games.
She and the team’s leaders helped cultivate a feeling of inclusion in the group, whether a player had won two state championships or was brand new to high school lacrosse.
“We’re really one big friend group,” Kissel said. “We really worked as captains and the group as a whole to create a team culture of everyone’s included. You know when you come to practice every day that everyone’s going to be in a good mood and we’re going to have a great time. That’s what I love about playing lacrosse is you know you’re going to have fun.”
Kissel and fellow four-year players Vivian Eckerman, Maggie Burchfield and Isabella Orton learned lessons in leadership from the seniors on the two state championship teams.
“It was insane,” Kissel said. “It was one of the best feelings ever. It helped us create the culture we have now and wanting to continue that drive for our program, wanting every girl in the program to experience a state championship. It’s truly one of a kind. It’s not the outcome we wanted this year, but it’s a memory I’ll have forever.”
The regional final featured two teams who combined to win the last four Division 1 state championships, Brighton from 2022-24 and South Lyon last season. South Lyon is unbeaten over the last two seasons, winning four tight matchups with Brighton.
Brighton led 3-2 after one quarter and had a goal disallowed early in the second before South Lyon scored four straight goals to take the lead for good.
The Bulldogs rallied three times, only to have South Lyon respond to maintain its lead.
After trailing 12-7 with 1:11 left in the third quarter, Brighton cut the lead to 12-11 on a goal by Lauren Simms with 5:47 remaining in the game.
South Lyon’s Gabriela Lucchesi scored two quick goals to expand the lead to 14-11 with 4:47 left.
South Lyon made things difficult on Brighton by winning draws and making it an ordeal for the Bulldogs to get the ball out of their own end.
“They have a fantastic re-defend and they run the pace of the field,” Peters said. “They’re very disciplined. They play very similar to how we play. It’s hard if the draws aren’t going your way, because you can’t answer.”
Kelly McKaig had five goals, Quinn Holdridge three and Mia Balogh two for Brighton.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Brighton girls lacrosse ousted by South Lyon in clash of state powers
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
