Troy -- Defending Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Champion Birmingham Unified opened their title defense powering over No. 2-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian 14-4 at Troy Athens in the opening game of regional play.

   Marian got on the board first only a few minutes into the game, but Birmingham took over from that point. Birmingham took at commanding 8-2 lead into the second half thanks to three goals by junior Zoe Smith, two goals apiece from freshman Carly Signorello and senior Katie Stephens, and a goal from senior Quinn Golinske.

   The Mustangs opened the second half, scoring first to make the score 8-3 only to see Birmingham score five straight goals.

   Stephens got her third goal of the game at the 19:57 mark, then junior Nancy Miner scored back to back goals 30 seconds apart at 17:33 and 17:03. Senior Lauren Acker and junior Rachel Miller added goals to make it 13-3. After a Marian goal at 4:14, Smith finished the scoring with her fourth goal of the game with 2:46 left.

   "We played a very good team," said Head Coach Jen Dunbar. "We played a good game of lacrosse and we knew what we were playing for and we got the job done."

   The Birmingham defense (senior goalie Emmy Scheidt, Golinske, seniors Allison Brown, Kayla Bolton, and junior Andrea Maham) was stellar, limiting the high-powered Marian offense to only four goals. The Birmingham defensive strategy was implemented only the day before in practice.

   "Our defense was just phenomenal," said Dunbar.

   Birmingham beat Ann Arbor Pioneer 16-2 to claim the 2007 MHSAA Division 1 Championship and was ranked at No. 4 in the latest LaxPower.com rankings.

   Marian finishes a fine season at 11-3-2. Birmingham (made up of players from Birmingham Seaholm and Birmingham Groves) improves to 12-5-1 on the season. Birmingham played a very tough regular season schedule, facing some of the toughest teams in Ohio andIndiana in addition to its state games. Its only state loss was an 8-6 setback to Grosse Pointe South early in the season.

   Next up for Birmingham is Troy at Troy Athens on May 28 at 6 p.m.