COMMERCE TOWNSHIP – Bennett Crossfield’s header capped a wild second half and propelled the Walled Lake Northern Knights to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory Thursday evening over their crosstown rivals, the Walled Lake Western Warriors.
J.J. Roberts fired a free kick from the right side towards the back post and Crossfield out jumped everyone for the ball, heading it into the net with just 1:12 remaining.
“It was scenic. Everyone went to the corner,” Crossfield said. “We had height there (on the back post). J.J., his crosses in the second half were amazing. I was in there. There were a few people around me. I got a clean header off it. There was a deflection, and we won the game. It was amazing,” he added.
Crossfield’s goal was typical of the goals that Northern scored in the second half as three of its four goals came from set pieces, and four involved getting balls towards the back post – generally being delivered by Roberts, who officially assisted on two goals – Crossfield’s and one by Ryan Donato that tied the game at 2-2 earlier in the half. But he also took the set pieces that started things going on Northern’s other two goals.
“Our offense really started to show what we are capable of. We wanted it more. We started to finish our chances. We knew something needed to change, and we did that,” Donato said.
Photo gallery of Walled Lake Western vs. WL Northern in LVC boys soccer action
The teams had played a very even first half, and after each team had skimmed the outside of the post, it was the Warriors who finally opened the scoring. Jesus Mariano Marquez settled a ball near the top of the Northern penalty area and ripped a shot through traffic and into the lower-left corner midway through the first half. The Warriors would carry that lead into halftime and even double their advantage with 18:39 remaining in the game when Marquez blasted a ball in from 35 yards out. That made the score 2-0 and the Warriors seemed to be in control.
But Northern would not quit, and after struggling to create chances and to take advantage of set pieces over the first 60 minutes, suddenly everything clicked for the Knights. Northern finally got on the board just 39 seconds later when Sean Lenhardt bundle a rebound over the line to make it 2-1. Roberts found Donato on the back post with a corner kick that Donato headed in less than four minutes after that. Suddenly, it was suddenly a 2-2 game and Northern had all the momentum.
Walled Lake Northern’s Ryan Donato (4) and Walled Lake Western’s Jesus Mariano Marquez battle for the ball during Thursday evening’s LVC contest. A hat trick by Marquez was not enough for the Warriors, who fell 4-3. (A.M. ARRICK – For MediaNews Group)
Donato would give the Knights the lead with 11:46 to play in the game after another corner kick. Warriors goalie Denys Koda made a great save on the initial shot from point-blank range, but the rebound fell straight to Donato, who buried it in the open net to give Northern their first lead of the game at 3-2.
The Warriors still had plenty of fight left in their own right, tying the game with 5:50 to play when Marquez converted a penalty kick to complete his hat trick and tie the score 3-3.
“He’s a wonderful player. He was second-team all-state last year, and in my opinion, he’s the best player in the area,” Warriors head coach Alex Wilson said.
But it was not enough as Western conceded another late goal and fell in another game that they had led at halftime.
“It’s definitely been a struggle for us this year to go through and finish matches. For most of the matches, we’ve played great football. We’ve scored plenty of goals, but we’re having a hard time finishing it off and putting the nail in the coffin,” Wilson said.
The win was an important one for Walled Lake Northern. Not only do the Knights retain the rivalry cup, but they improve to 9-1 overall and 2-1 in the Lakes Valley Conference Valley Division. With Lakeland dropping points by playing a 0-0 draw against South Lyon East, the Knights creep closer to first place. They will still need a little help from South Lyon High School, who are Lakeland’s final division opponent, to reel in the Eagles. But the Knights will also need to win their final two division games, starting with a home match against that same South Lyon East squad next Tuesday.
“As much of a cliché as it might sound, we absolutely, positively never stopped believing. That was the theme of our little halftime huddle. I can tell when student-athletes are being genuine about that type of emotion, and I looked around the circle. And I promise you that every single player said it, but also believed it, and that type of belief means something sometimes,” Northern assistant coach Luke Zagorski said. “I’m so, so proud of these boys. There’s been ups and downs all season. But they are such a talented bunch, and they are such a joy to be around.”
Walled Lake Western (5-3-4 overall, 0-2-1 LVC Valley) will host South Lyon next Tuesday in its next game.
“We’re going to try to reset and get after it next week,” Wilson said. “It’s a tough rivalry. My hat’s off to Northern. They’ve had a great season.”