Last Friday the Pioneer High School girls lacrosse team won its third straight regional championship and will play in the MHSAA Division 1 state semifinals on Wednesday.

As big of an accomplishment as the regional championship is, Pioneer coach Zachary Maghes knows his team has work to do to get to its end goal.

“Our ultimate goal is to win the state championship,” Pioneer coach Zachary Maghes said after his team’s 18-5 win over South Lyon Unified. “This was a nice notch in our belt. We made sure we were focused and did all the little things.”

Pioneer fell in the semifinal round of the state tournament in 2012, a year after a heartbreaking overtime loss to Brighton in the championship game. Maghes is hoping its third trip to semifinals in as many years can be the charm for a state championship.

The next step toward that goal for the Pioneers is taking on Bloomfield Hills Lahser in the state semifinals at Hartland High School on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Pioneers haven’t played Lahser yet this year, but are looking to go a perfect 4-0 against Bloomfield Hills teams after beating Bloomfield Hills Marian 14-6, Bloomfield Hills United 17-12 and Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart 17-9.

Maghes said he thought the Pioneers played the best game of their season on Friday, which could mean they are peaking at just the right time.

“We’re just focused on the little things and taking it to the next level,” he said.

Athletes of the Week

Berkley Edwards, Chelsea boys track and field: Won the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the Division 2 state championships. Edwards’ winning 100 time of 10.58 seconds was faster than the wining times at the Division 1, 3 and 4 finals.

Mary Hanna, Saline girls tennis: Defeated Clarkston’s Lexi Baylis - 6-1, 6-2 - in the No. 1 singles finals at the Division 1 girls state championships on Saturday. She is the first No. 1 singles state champion from Washtenaw County since Pioneer’s Jessica Seyferth won in 2005. She will play at Nebraska next year.

By the numbers

0: Hits allowed by Saline pitcher Kristina Zalewski in the Hornets’ 2-0 district championship win over Monroe on Monday.

1: Sets lost all season by Saline’s Mary Hanna, who capped an undefeated season with a Division 1 No. 1 singles state title on Saturday.

2: Years of existence for the Manchester High School soccer team, which won a district title in its first year of MHSAA postseason play on Saturday.

3: Second half goals scored by the Pioneer soccer team in its 3-0 district championship win over Skyline.

10: State championships won by Washtenaw County athletes and teams on Saturday.

14: Runners left on base by the Saline High School baseball team in its 1-0 district championship loss to Bedford on Monday.

15: Goal differential between Saline girls soccer team and its opponents in the Hornets’ district championship run.

Potent quotables

"That trio up front knows how to score. I know that sounds elementary, but these girls are natural players. They're gifted in that they can shoot inside the midfield and be accurate. Jessica (Manders) has a nose for the ball. Once she gets it, it doesn't matter where she is, she goes right to the net. She's one of the most aggressive players I've ever coached."

-- Manchester girls soccer coach Mark Davis after his team won its first ever district championship.