Dragons begin district play today against Davison

By Brian Kappler
Review Contributor
ORION TWP. — The Lake Orion High School boys varsity soccer team wrapped up their regular season with a 0-0 draw at home against Rochester Adams on Oct. 3.
The match was played in front of packed stands at Dragon stadium and included Senior Night, honoring the 15 senior players on the Dragon varsity squad.
The tie comes after a 7-0 victory over Avondale on Oct. 1, the Dragons final OAA White Division game. Lake Orion finished the regular season 9-3-2 overall and 6-0-0 in the league, winning an OAA White title.
The Dragons start MHSAA District 6 play at 6 p.m. today against Davison (1-11-1) at Davison High School. The winner will play either Grand Blanc (15-1-2) or Flushing (10-5-2) in the district semifinal at 6:46 p.m. Oct. 15 at Davison High School.
“The boys had a great season and have set the bar high for the underclassmen,” said Coach Jason Wise.
Against Adams (12-2-4), Dragon goalie Brendan Zale was called into action early in the match. Two saves within the first 30 seconds of the match energized the team and the crowd.
The Dragons and Adams exchanged scoring chances in the first half. Senior Matias Ballina-Loza sailed a long shot wide left of the net at 7:30 into the game. Adams rang the Dragon’s near post from a free kick at just under 13 minutes elapsed.
Zale again kept the game scoreless 16 minutes into game, deflecting another Adams free kick and the ensuing rebound shot.
The hometown crowd was brought to their feet with 9 minutes remaining in the half when senior Landon Case turned a cross from Ballina-Loza into a laser near post shot, only saved a full extension dive from the Adams’ goalkeeper.
The Lake Orion defensive lines of seniors Broden Janczarek, Matt Toffolo, Jacob Rybak, along with juniors Will Farmer, Nick Marlette and goalkeeper Zale kept the Adams offense scoreless for the half.
The Dragons midfielders including seniors Luke Wilson, Jack Verlinden, Nico Lasso, Will Jeakle, Landon Case, and Matias Ballina-Loza with juniors Austin Negri, Damian Saldana and Hudson Case battled Adams between the respective 18-yard lines.
The second half started with an early Dragons free kick by senior Fernando Bartolome, just wide of target. Nine minutes into the half, the brief roar of the visiting crowd was silenced after an apparent Adams goal was ruled offsides.
The Dragons continued to grind out scoring chances in the second half, and with 28 minutes remaining on the clock, senior Fernando Bartolome’ fired a shot right of the net.
Four minutes later, senior Matt Toffolo launched a free kick on target from just inside the offensive half, the Adams goalkeeper making the stop.
With 14 minutes remaining, senior Billy Kappler rang a snap shot off the near post after being fed a pass from junior Hudson Case.
At just under 7 minutes remaining, senior Luke Wilson fired a turnaround near post shot inside the 18, forcing the Adams goalie into a quick save to maintain the scoreless tie.