#16 - GIRLS - Blake
This week we are reviewing #16 Blake.
2023 Record
9-6. Lost to BSM in Section 5 Semifinals.
Who did they lose (not necessarily everyone, just most notable)?
Ellie Morrison – M
35 goals, 9 assists, 44 points, 43 DC
Committed to Dartmouth (D1)
Remy Abraham - A
26 goals, 14 assists, 40 points
Sally Countryman - M
16 goals, 16 assists, 32 points, 20 DC
Abby Ziehl – GK
9.52 GAA, 51.1%
Who is returning?
2024 Cynthia Lyman - M
53 goals, 18 assists, 71 points, 64 DC
Committed to Hobart & William Smith (D3)
2025 Jada Chenitz – D
22 GB, 28 FT, 18 DC
Piper Crow – GK
4 GP, 7.05 GAA, 54.2%
Instant Reaction
The Blake School of Excellence (BSOE) has a really balanced # of players from each class – that’s good.
The 6 seniors leaving all made significant contributions, so they’ll need some of the newer and unheralded players to step up. Really excited to see who those are, under new HC Lauren Greene.
The Future
Jada Chenitz played a huge role on the defensive side for the Bears. She was second on the team in GB and even chipped in with 18 DC. The now junior seems to be a natural to be THE player on the defensive side and maybe even to fill a d-middie role to take up some of that slack.
Stat Crusade
In our crusade on assist percentage…Blake assisted 81/167 goals scored…48.5%. Higher, but not out of line.
For the record the past teams were 59.1%, 50.1%, 34.8%, 67.4%, 58.7%, 55.7%, 33.3%, 38.2%, 44.5%, 50.7%, 57.9%, 31.5%, 24.8%, 52.1, 48.8%, and 48.5%
2024 Schedule?
12/13 games in the books, not too shabby. Has Edina, BSM, Andover, Eden Prairie, Jefferson, Champlin Park, and White Bear Lake. That’s a good mix of the top 10, 11-20, mixing up geographic location.
And they still have a spot open. Feels like a get chance to fire up the PJ for the short flight up to Moorhead for the BSOE. How awesome would that be: Bentleys vs F150s (and not the new ones that cost as much as a Bentley)?
Of course, that other school we always talk about would slot in nicely as well.
Interesting Nugget No One is Talking About
Unlike their private counterpart in St. Paul last week…Blake had a junior (last year) get some mop up time in goal for 4 games with Piper Crow. Love seeing that done. They aren’t BSOE for nothing.
Here is nugget #2…and its taken too long to talk about her in this bit. Shout out to Cynthia Lyman for being THE factor last year. We were huge on Ellie Morrison for literal years now, but as she fought injury bugs, Lyman took over the heavy lifting. Huge stat line as a junior and we expect a BIG senior season for her.
In Conclusion
Who’s going to step up to help Lyman? Just being honest - no super clear path. BSOE was one of THE programs as lax was starting up in the state, but a few schools/programs have caught up and passed them for for top 4-5 in the state and now more are catching up for 5-15 in the state. More girls playing, the development of youth associations, more clubs…lots of reasons and no one’s fault. it just doesn’t seem like Lydia Sutton and Anne Slusser are walking through that door again…and if they did, their impact against the rest of the league would be a lot less than it was back in the day.
They’re too proud of a program so they’ll still be a factor…the question is can they get back to being THE factor?
Coming next week: Wayzata