Just like it has all season, the Lakeville South offense continues to be nearly impossible to stop.
Cretin-Derham Hall didn’t have an answer Tuesday.
Katie Grubbs scored a career-high six goals as the top-seeded Cougars routed the Raiders 17-4 in a state girls lacrosse quarterfinal.
Looking for the school’s second title in three years, the 17-0 Cougars also got four goals and three assists from Sivanna O’Brien. Tori Tschida, Emma Remington and Christina Swirtz had two tallies apiece, and Charlotte Fannin had three assists.
Next up for the Cougars is Stillwater at 5 p.m. Thursday at Eden Prairie High School. The Ponies (13-3) beat Minnetonka 18-5 in their quarterfinal.
Lakeville South finished third last year after losing a one-goal heartbreaker to Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the semifinals, a memory that remains fresh for this year’s squad.
“It’s kind of a reality check for us coming into the state tournament, making sure we’re really getting focused on what we’re doing, not just walking in like, ‘Oh, we’re going to win,’” O’Brien said. “It really helps us prepare and get focused, to get that drive.”
And there has been at least one ritualistic change.
“Last year we were singing to the ‘Pitch Perfect’ soundtrack, and this year it’s banned from our warmup from anyone singing it,” O’Brien said with a chuckle.
But success is not only about putting the ball in an opponent’s net; it needs to be kept out of your own. Lakeville South has outscored its four postseason opponents 67-12.
The Cougars have not allowed more than five goals in a game since April 18, their second contest of the season.
Coach Joel Tornel called the performance of goaltender Kate Baell “unbelievable” with big saves at big times, but he also credits the four girls in front of the last line of defense.
“All four of our D can clear, can pass and they play great defense. We just don’t give people quality scoring opportunities, and when they get a good look, Kate’s been there.”
Grubbs, a senior midfielder and University of Northern Michigan commit, scored 36 seconds into Tuesday’s game and Tschida, the Pioneer Press 2024 East Metro Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year, got on the board three minutes later. Swirtz, O’Brien and Grubbs scored before the quarter was done for a 5-1 lead.
“Katie was putting everything in. It came in her stick and she found space. It was fun to watch. Some of the prettiest goals I’ve seen all year were today,” Tornel said.
Jane Stangler scored three times for Cretin-Derham Hall (11-6), upping her season total to 40. Jordin Rosga scored her 57th of the season.
“This (success) is almost earlier than we expected. We’re trying to build the program back right, were trying to get back from a lacrosse perspective. And that the girls were able to battle and persevere where we had a little hiccup in the middle of the year and being able to be here is an amazing accomplishment,” said coach Jeff Rosga, whose club lost four of five games in early May and was seeded third in its section.
Grubbs, Tschida, Swirtz and Remington scored in a 90-second span midway through the second quarter to make it 11-1 and put the game into running time.
Leave a Reply