Warren -- “We’re on schedule,” said Aurora Zinck when asked before last night’s girls lacrosse game against Warren Regina if her Pontiac Notre Dame Prep squad was ready to capture their third straight Catholic League Division II title.

The Lady Irish, among Oakland County’s top ten teams, are the No. 1 seed in the CHSL playoff next week heading to the championship game on Saturday, May 14. They meet Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard in one semi-final match. The winner meets the winner of

the other semi-final between Livonia Ladywood and Regina.

Ladywood is the favorite to make the finals. Notre Dame (9-3, 6-0 CHSL) has defeated the Blazers twice this season, once by five points and the other time by one point.

Notre Dame Prep’s experience  was the difference in the 16-10 conquest of Regina (1-5).  The Saddlelites couldn’t handle the Irish’s overall team speed and ball control offense.

“Passing is the key to ball movement,” said Regina Assistant Coach Loreto Manzo, citing a weakness in Regina’s offense.

“We have to work on our defense,” added senior goalie Lindsay Holdway, who still managed a smile after the barrage of shots that the Lady Irish aimed her way.

Notre Dame set the tempo of the game opening with five unanswered goals to help establish an 8-3 halftime lead. They scored four quick ones in the opening three minutes of the second half for a 12-3 advantage.

Zinck liberally substituted all 22 players on the Irish roster. Half of them scored, led by four goals by Tia Jurkiw and three by Brooke Ingraham, increasing her team-leading total to 28 for the season.

Mary Eicher had two goals, while Erica Klieman. Stephanie Apruzzesse, Megan Schulte, Ally Brodzik, Audrey Tatum, Julie Pieciak and Mary Kate Zinn each had one goal.

Regina put on a spirited rally in the game’s last 22 minutes, outscoring the Irish, 7-4.  Arianna Szkilnyk had three goals. Alexandra Hudas, Jordan Selewski and Meghan Doyle scored two each, and Donna Lapointe chipped in one.