Troy -- Novi rallied to beat Utica Eisenhower 8-7 in a hard-fought, physical game on May 28 to advance to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Boys Lacrosse Division 1, Region 4 final.

   Novi will face Troy Athens, who eliminated Bloomfield United 15-8, in the final on May 30 at 7 p.m. at Troy High School.

   Eisenhower took charge in the first quarter against higher-ranked Novi, as senior Harrison Williams opened the scoring less than a minute into the game.

   Junior Tom Machisak came right back for Novi to score two straight goals to put the Wildcats ahead 2-1. Eisenhower senior Charlie Andrews and junior Vinny Giacona each found the net 17 seconds apart to put Eisenhower back in the lead at 3-2. Novi junior Matthew Mandeville finished the fury of goals 14 seconds later to tie the game at 3-3 at the end of the first.

   The Wildcats moved ahead 5-3 at half with goals by junior Andrew Donatto and senior Craig Howell.

   The Eagles came out strong in the third as Giacona scored his second goal and Williams scored his second and third of the game to put Eisenhower in the lead at 6-5 with 4:38 left in the third..

   Machisak scored his third goal for the Wildcats to break the Eagles' momementum with 47 seconds left in the quarter to tie the game at 6-6.

   Sophomore Alex Willer scored goals in two minutes at the start of the fourth to put the Wildcats ahead for good at 8-6. The Eagles closed to within one at 8-7 with a goal by junior Joel Woznicki with 8:04 left in the game.

   The Novi defense was stellar throughout the game and fought off Eisenhower in the final eight minutes to close out the game.

  "Our defense was amazing. … We knew Eisenhower was going to be a physical and run-and-gun team and we knew we had to play our game to win," said Novi Head Coach Tom Stephanoff. "Toward the end of the game we finally slowed things down and were able to capitalize on our opportunities."

MHSAA lacrosse regional scoreboard

Boys

Division 1

Region 2 (At Walled Lake Northern)

University of Detroit Jesuit 17, Clarkston 3

Novi Detroit Catholic Central 20, Walled Lake Northern 4

Region 4 (At Troy)

Novi 8, Utica Eisenhower 7

Troy Athens 15, Bloomfield United 8

Division 2

Region 5 (At East Grand Rapids)

East Grand Rapids beat Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern

Flint Powers Catholic 8, Portage Central 4

Region 6 (At Williamston)

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 16, Haslett Williamston 1

Warren DeLa Salle 13, Okemos 9

Region 7 (At Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard)

Detroit Country Day 9,Farmington 4

Grosse Pointe South 27, Ypsilanti Lincoln 2

Girls

Division 1

Region 3 (At Troy Athens)

Birmingham Unified 16,Troy 1

Troy Athens 15, Grosse Pointe North 12

Division 2

Region 6 (At Livonia Ladywood)

Farmington 13, Tecumseh 10

Farmington Hills Mercy 12, Detroit Country Day 10

Region 7 (At Pontiac Notre Dame Prep)

Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart 19, Rochester 1

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 11, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 8

Region 8 (At Hartland)

Flushing 18, Flint Carman Ainsworth 16

Flint Powers Catholic 12, Swartz Creek 6