#13 - GIRLS - Park of Cottage Grove
This week we are reviewing #13 ranked Park of Cottage Grove.
2023 Record
13-2. Lost to Simley in Section 3 Semifinals.
Who did they lose (not necessarily everyone, just most notable)?
Shelby Hansen - A
64 goals, 14 assists, 78 points, 41 DC
Committed to Concordia St. Paul (D2)
Who is returning?
2025 Madi Brinkman – A/M
47 goals, 5 assists, 52 points, 82 DC
2025 Josie Leonard - M
40 goals, 9 assists, 49 points, 50 DC
2025 Aubree Laska - GK
4.83 GAA, 52.0%
Instant Reaction
Wow…that is a high percentage of output by three players. More on that in Stat Crusade.
The Future
Of the 23 players rostered in 2023, 2 were in 2026 or younger.
Now…they are led by 3 primary 2025s; Madi Brinkman, Josie Leonard, and Aubree Laska. They’re juniors this year and this is pretty clearly their team, so we’ll have to wait to see if they have any more 2026s or 2027s stepping up to help take the load off the 24s and 25s.
Stat Crusade
In our crusade on assist percentage…Park assisted 46/193 goals scored…23.8%! A new record low percentage!
For the record, the teams reviewed are 59.1%, 50.1%, 34.8%, 67.4%, 58.7%, 55.7%, 33.3%, 38.2%, 44.5%, 50.7%, 57.9%, 31.5%, and 23.8%.
ERZ held the title of lowest assist percentage for one whole week – and then Park ripped the title away! Holy smokes.
A few more interesting stats:
Goals scored: 151/193 (78.2%) goals were scored by three players: ’23 Shelby Hansen, ’25 Madi Brinkman, and ’25 Josie Leonard. Yo. We think we figured out the scouting report for Park. They’ve got to mix things up this season a little.
DCs: This one is even more wild. Hansen, Brinkman, and Leonard accounted for 173/184 DC. 94%! Come on!
2024 Schedule?
13/13 on the calendar. Kinda.
Park does have CDH, East Ridge, Woodbury, Stillwater and White Bear Lake, but those are all conference opponents. Really want to see some top non-conference opponents. What do they have:
Simley - makes total sense
Apple Valley - is kinda on the same-ish part of town
Rochester Mayo - kinda glad to see something a little different, but what about having Orono in this spot?
So why the kinda? They have a game @ St. Paul Central HS…against no one.
Let’s get some mingling among some of these programs. Don’t be afraid – everyone makes the post season, regardless of record!
Interesting Nugget No One is Talking About
11/23 rostered players had multiple positions. Position-less lacrosse!
Their goalie had a 4.83 GAA and 52%...they clearly have a defense that knows that they’re doing and a goalie that stops the ball…so getting your two returning studs some offensive help seems to be the must.
In Conclusion
Last year seemed like the year for Park to make a run to state and they were very clearly upset by Simley in the section semis. Leonard and Brinkman are going to pick up where they left off, but they need some help better balance their attack. Losing 1/3 of their trio is only going to make it that much easier for teams to key on the two left. Imagine what a South or BSM or PL would do with only two threats to worry about? They could send a double to either and still recover quick enough to prevent quality shots.
Coming next week: Rosemount