Grosse Pointe Woods -- 2007 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 runner-up Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood beat rival Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 9-4 on May 8 to improve to 11-5 on the season.

   Liggett jumped on the board first on a quick goal by Michael Burchi. Cranbrook tied the game a few minutes later as sophomore William Stacy assisted junior Dean Stanton for the goal. Liggett got the lead back at 2-1 on Steven Coval's goal with 3:15 left in the first.

   It was all Cranbrook from that point on.

   Dean Stanton scored three more goals to total four for the day. Sophomore William Miller found the net three times. Sophomore Andrew Stanton contributed three assists. Senior James Foster had a goal and an assist. Sophomore Benjamin Momon scored a goal and sophomore Ryan Safian and junior Austen Hohendorf added assists.

   "We're getting to be strong rivals with Liggett in lacrosse and hockey," said Head Coach Justin Ronayne. "They are a much improved team from last year and the year before. They gave us a fight today."

   Cranbrook is a young team, fielding only five seniors and starting six sophomores. "We're getting contributions across the board," said Ronayne. "We have a lot of young guys who have been developing throughout the year and are continuing to improve."

  Ronayne is in his third season and has guided the Cranes to a Division 2 championship in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2007 to East Grand Rapids.

   The Cranes finish the regular season against Division 1 schools Rockford and Troy Athens before starting the state playoffs.

  Cranbrook will face the winner of the Madison Heights Bishop Foley/Rochester Adams pre-regional game in their regional opener. If Cranbrook advances, they would face the Orchard Lake St. Mary's/University Liggett winner in the regional final. Cranbrook eliminated Liggett 14-2 in last year's regional final.

   The Cranes look to contend with defending champion East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, and Warren De La Salle, among others, for the Division 2 title.

De La Salle, Forest Hills Central, and East Grand Rapids all hold regular season wins over the Cranes.

   "We're hoping to ramp up our play in the last few regular season games," said Ronayne. "For the first time in years, there is a lot of parity in Division 2. There are eight or more teams in legitimate contention for the title. It's going to depend of who's got the hot hand, who's got the hot goalie, and who's got the hot shotters. We'll see how it all shakes out."