Brother Rice and Western Reserve went into the game as the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the Midwest in the LaxPower.com computer rankings.

The two Midwest powers went back and forth in the first half, with neither team able to gain a large advantage. The Warriors scored quickly in the first as Devin Peurach found the net off an assist from Nick Dolik. Reserve tied the game at 1-1 on a goal from Ben McIntosh at the 8:11 mark. Jake Thompson's goal a few minutes later put Reserve ahead 2-1. Peurach and Dolik combined again with 32 seconds left in the first to tie the game at 2-2.

Dolik got his first goal of the day to start the scoring in the second quarter, giving the Warriors a 3-2 lead. Reserve tied the game for the last time at 3-3 on a goal by Greg Circelli. Captain Michael Hamilton put Brother Rice ahead for good with a goal with 16 seconds left in the first half at 4-3.

The Warriors outscored Reserve 5-2 in the third to take a 9-5 lead. Reserve then scored three of the next four goals to start the fourth and close the game to 10-8 with 6:09 left on the clock. But Dolik was not about to let that lead slip away. He quickly scored the next two goals unassisted and assisted on Dan Henneghan's goal with 1:30 left to give Rice the 13-8 win.

Dolik finished with five goals and four assists. Peurach had four goals. Joe Fontanesi and Mark Chaput both had a goal and assist.

The Warriors improve to 5-0 on the season. Reserve is 6-2.

The last time these two teams met was in 2006 when Reserve beat Rice 17-7 in the semifinals of the Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association (MSLCA) Championships. Reserve went on to win the 2006 title, beating Upper Arlington. Rice was the 2005 champion.

Rice is the No. 1 team in Michigan in the LaxPower.com computer rankings.

Reserve is the No. 2 team in Ohio in the rankings to Worthington Kilbourne.

The Warriors are coming off a 22-1 2007 season where they beat Novi Detroit Catholic Central to win their third straight Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Championship. The MHSAA began sanctioning lacrosse in the 2005 season. The Warriors have won 10 of the past 12 state championships and 14 overall.

But Brother Rice is not content with simply being the state's best team. The Warriors have won eight Midwest Championships and four of the past seven.

This year's Midwest Tournament is May 17-18 and the MHSAA finals are June 7.