Dakota sophomore Jake Kowalkowski attempts to steal the ball from a Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse player.
By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Macomb Chronicle | Published June 8, 2022
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — In an effort to kickstart a lacrosse program at Macomb Township’s Dakota High School, head coach Mike Benavides approached the athletic department in 2007 with the idea of bringing another successful sport to Dakota.
While his initial pitch wasn’t recognized, Dakota finally established a lacrosse team in 2017. With three Macomb Area Conference championships in both the White (two) and Red (one) divisions, it’s safe to say the decision was a success.
Dakota faced its trials and tribulations in its inaugural season, finishing 2-12, but since then, it has gone 44-16, while the team continued to dominate the MAC.
“I think there is an overall expectation to succeed when you play sports at Dakota,” Benavides said. “We didn’t want to be the team that didn’t succeed.”
After a 15-3 loss to Clarkston in the Region 5 championship, Dakota finished its 2022 season at 13-5 with an impressive performance behind it. Dakota earned the MAC Red league championship in its first year in the division, and the title gives Dakota three-straight league championships.
After a successful 14-4 season last year in the MAC White, Dakota moved to the MAC Red for the 2022 year. Junior Aiden Criteser said it was a smooth transition for the team.
“With our schedule coming in last year, we played everyone that was already in the [MAC] Red last year,” Criteser said. “We expected to come in and control it, and that’s what we did.”
Dakota faced a tough 16-0 loss to open the season against Birmingham Seaholm but, from there, continued to improve.
Sporting seven seniors on its roster, Dakota established a balanced attack of its veteran presence and youth. Seniors Andre Melis and Dylan Copeland forefront the senior group while Criteser, Carter Kaul, Noah Ericson, Trey Edwards and Jake Ferguson add to the experienced group.
Criteser, Kaul, Ferguson and Edwards led an offensive charge that averaged just under 10 goals per game this year, including seven games with 10 or more scored.
The offense fired on all cylinders in Dakota’s last five games, averaging 11 goals, including a 10-3 win over Troy Athens in the regional semifinals.
“We all talk to each other very well and make up plays on the run if we see something,” Criteser said. “We all know our strengths, what we can do, and where we need to be and when to be there.”
While the experienced group has done its part offensively, the underclassmen have consistently provided for Dakota this season.
Led by sophomore Dylan Porter and Jake Kowalkowski, the second-year class was paired with a freshmen class spearheaded by freshmen Logan Criteser and Jacob Bajis.
Their contributions have been the focal point of a successful defensive unit that’s allowed six goals per game while allowing only three in its last three games.
Kowalkowski said the defense has built a strong bond.
“It helps having the chemistry; we’re a younger unit with sophomores and freshmen,” Kowalkowski said. “We listen to each other and fix what we messed up, but we don’t get down on each other.”
Porter has controlled the net for Dakota this season.
While Dakota faced its second-straight regional championship loss, it returns a full defensive unit with an extra year of experience and offensive starters ready to make a push for next season.
Dakota will return as the defending MAC Red champions in hope of winning its fourth-straight league title.