CLAWSON >> The No. 1 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep Fighting Irish claimed a D3 district title Wednesday night with a 3-2 (SO) win over the fifth-ranked Detroit Country Day Yellowjackets.

The Fighting Irish won the shootout in six rounds, 4-3, with Jack Kilpatrick, Will Lanham, Andrew Paulson, and Henry Graff making their kicks.

Only three players made their kicks for Country Day — Antonio Schimizzi, Evan Stark, and goalkeeper Finn Hounsell.

“Both teams played great,” Country Day head coach Steve Bossert said. “It’s really fitting of this matchup. I think it’s two really great teams and we played terrific. It’s unfortunate, but congratulations to Notre Dame Prep. They deserve it. They did a great job, and hopefully they will win the whole thing.”

The game was an exciting see-saw affair as both teams seemed to get the ball and hit the gas pedal, flying forward at every opportunity.

“It was a completely different game than in the regular season when we played them, which was much more of a possession-oriented game. This was just direct, smashmouth, kind of in your face. I’m just glad we came out on top,” Notre Dame head coach Rob Suffredini said.

Country Day struck first, taking the lead just over eight minutes into the contest. The Yellowjackets were awarded a long free kick and Micah Zacks got on the end of the service on the back side. He chipped the ball quickly to Schimizzi, who just as quickly popped the ball over the charging goalkeeper and into an empty net for a 1-0 Yellowjacket lead.

Notre Dame responded with a pair of set-piece goals in quick succession later in the half. First, Kilpatrick slotted home a penalty kick, and barely three minutes later, he lofted a long free kick into the box that Lanham headed into the top corner to give the Fighting Irish a halftime lead.

The game continued to go back and forth after halftime as the contest turned into a struggle, both physically and mentally. The physical play — and the pace of play — took a toll on both teams, and as the game wore on there were several stoppages as players from both teams started to suffer from cramps. Late in the game, it was not an uncommon sight to see multiple players down or see players from the opposing team helping to stretch out cramping opponents.

“I think in a game like this, there always tends to be some sort of issue, something that doesn’t go your way. And I think that’s why we’re such a good team. We battled through all the adversity,” Kilpatrick said.

Country Day eventually found a game-tying goal with 24:26 on the second-half clock when Tino Hratsaris took a short corner, angled out towards the top corner of the penalty area and then bent a ball inside the near post with a terrific strike.

With all the offense and attacking play, penalty kicks seemed unlikely. But the goalies simply would not be beaten again. Country Day goalie Finn Hounsell turned in a spectacular performance, making 14 saves in regulation and overtime play, including a spectacular low diving stop right after the Yellowjackets had tied the game. Notre Dame Prep goalie Tomassino Offer was also a steady presence in net. Offer made seven saves altogether and provided a strong aerial presence in helping the Fighting Irish defend nine corner kicks.

With the win, Notre Dame Prep (19-2) avenge both a defeat earlier this year as well as a loss in last year’s district semifinal to the Yellowjackets. The Fighting Irish move on to next week’s regional at Flint Powers.

“It feels great. I don’t think we would have been able to do this without loving each other dearly. Everyone worked their butts off, gave it all, and then some,” Kilpatrick said.

“Props to the other team (Country Day). They played a great game,” Lanham said. “But man, we played hard as a team. We all love each other. (It’s) just a big, big win for us.”

Detroit Country Day, last year’s state runner-up, finishes the year with a 14-5-3 record. The Yellowjackets graduate nine players from this year’s squad.

“I’m so proud of my kids. Our senior class did a great job and just led us the whole way,” Bossert said. “We’ll be good again. I was wondering how good we would be, and I think we played as a team as well as we could have all year long. And I couldn’t be prouder of a group of kids.”