Section Playoff Preview
Section Playoff Preview – Shakopee, Minnesota
Early season fireworks make everyone happy, and Shakopee, Minnesota will be putting on an absolute display on Tuesday night. Looking to solidify a Section 2 contender, Shakopee and Buffalo have agreed to face off early in the year to see who is primed to make run at a section title.
Following an historic undefeated regular season run in 2022, the Buffalo Bison fell short of the Section 2 Championship, losing to eventual winner, Chanhassen. While the Bison have started the 2023 campaign on the right foot, blowing Section 8 foe Monticello out 17-2, this matchup against Shakopee will be key to successful 2023 run. Knowing early on you can knock off the 2022 Section 2 runner up will surely give Buffalo a well-earned confidence boost for the remainder of April.
Meanwhile, the Shakopee Sabers will be in a very similar position as Buffalo. The Sabers finished the 2022 season 14-2, with their only losses coming to top 3 ranked teams Prior Lake and Chanhassen. Shakopee has not missed a beat in 2023, opening their season in a low scoring, but important, win over Bloomington Jefferson, and taking care of business against Chaska. Like Buffalo, a win over a section rival early on will do a lot to carry a team through the remainder of April.
Both teams return plenty of offensive firepower that will surely have a major impact on the game. Buffalo returns leading goal scorer and elite attackman Lane Kology, who finished the 2022 season with 73 goals and 14 assists. Meanwhile, Shakopee brings back an elite attackman of their own, and 2022 leading goal scorer, in Linus Toward who finished last season with 61 goals and 3 assists.
However, both seniors will have to contend with returning goaltenders as well. Buffalo returns senior goalie Braden Moseley, who put up a 14-1 record in 2022 with a 58% save percentage. Shakopee returns senior goalie Weston Brosam, who finished 2022 with a 14-2 record and 63% save percentage.
On top of talented netminders, the senior attackmen will also face challenging one on one defensive matchups. Shakopee junior defenseman, Tanner Bachelor, held Bloomington Jefferson’s top attackman to 0 points in their season opener, and will look to give Lane Kology a very similar treatment. On the other end of the field, Buffalo senior defenseman, Griffin Valli, finished the 2022 season on the 2nd Team All State roster and will continue his lacrosse career next season at D1 Cleveland State. Look for Valli to give Shakopee attackman Linus Toward a run for his money.
Tuesday night in Shakopee will surely set a tone for the remainder of the season in Section 2. Both programs have State Tournament goals in mind, and an early season win against a fellow section title contender will pay dividends in long run. Will the new kids on the block in Buffalo establish themselves as a Section 2 contender, or will Shakopee keep their title as Section 2 name stays? Find at 7:00 PM on Tuesday!
