2025 Girls Section Preview: Section 1
Now we are getting into the meat of the off season babble - the section previews!
The things we hope to touch on during these previews:
Teams in section, 2024 section seed & 2024 record
What happened last year
Notable players
Projected items of interest
2025 Preseason Rankings
Let’s go!
Teams In Section, 2024 Section Seed & 2024 Record
11 Teams Listed in Section 1. Listed in seeding they finished from the MSHSL website.
Lakeville South (19-0)
Lakeville North (11-5)
SW Christian/Jordan/Mayer Lutheran Stars (13-2)
Farmington (7-8)
Owatonna (11-3)
New Prague (6-8)
Rochester Century (7-7)
Rochester Mayo (6-8)
Mankato (6-8)
Northfield (2-10)
Rochester John Marshall/Lourdes (0-12)
What Happened Last Year
Lakeville South ran wild through the section. Lakeville North was second best. SWC beat who they should have and lost to who they should (Minnetonka & Lakeville North). We were sneaky high on Mankato and that flopped (and won’t stop us from being high on them again this year).
Mayo, Northfield and John Marshall/Lourdes didn’t bother to enter grades or a roster, so we won’t bother to talk about them, starting….now.
Notable Players
2025 Gisella Harder (SW Christian) - Committed to High Point - D1
Once upon a time, Harder was dubbed “The Freshman” by a certain podcast host. She’s now progressed to “The Senior.” She’s the best player in the section and that carries a lot of water. How she goes, SWC will go. But seriously, here is her 2024 stat line: 82 goals & 41 assists (123 points), 109 GBs, 42 FTs, 166 DCs…all in 15 games.
2025 Ella Mills (Lakeville South) - Committed to UC-Colorado Springs - D2
Mills may be forced to fill a gap for South at middie. Entering year 2 at South, she looks to be the vocal and physical leader for the Cougars.
2025 Shay Swanson (Lakeville North)
93 points. Almost double that of second highest scorer at North. She’s going to get a chance to score even more because 2nd - 5th leader scorers graduated (along with their goalie).
2025 Charlotte Fannin (Lakeville South) - Committed to UC - Colorado Springs - D2
Fannin is a taller version of her sister (currently at UCCS). Is going to be able to light the lamp over and over with their big three on to adulting.
2025 Riley Wicklund (Farmington) - Committed to Northern Michigan - D2
Part of an 11 person returning 2025 crew, she’ll look to lead the Tigers along with…
2026 Jaida Steffes (Farmington)
Led the squad in points as a sophomore. Part of a very intriguing trio with Wicklund and…
2025 Caprese Meier (Farmington) - Committed to UC - Pueblo - D2
Meier led the team in goals scored. 57 points (Steffes), 52 points (Wicklund), and 54 points (Meier).
2025 Kendall Sainsbury (Farmington) - Committed to Northern Michigan - D2
Defensive leader for the Tigers.
2025 Kate Bael (Lakeville South)
Best goalie in section. Maybe best goalie in state - at least in the conversation. Life is going to look a little different due to defensive graduation and injury. Time to see her anchor the defense.
2026 Nora Marshall (Owatonna) - Going to Benedictine College (NAIA)
Pushing Bael for goalie section goalie honors.
2025 Olivia Morrissey (Rochester Century)
56 goals and 8 assists last year. Almost tripled up on points over #2 on the squad.
2025 Ashley Fischer (Mankato) - Committed to St. Ben’s - D3
9.86 GAA…but with a 67.9% save percentage! Yo! Keep some shots off of your keeper.
Projected Items of Interest
Mankato. Lost 3 seniors. Top 7 scorers are returning, and quite honestly, we stopped counting at 7, so it might be higher. Beat South? No. Get 5th seed? Yes.
SWC. Besides Harder, they have (2) players returning with 50+ points (2026 Elyse Toews & 2026 Ella Bjorklund). Harder takes all the attention, but could they have formed a formidable 3 headed monster?
Owatonna. Returning 6/7 scorers and have a goalie that made our notables above.
2025 Preseason Rankings
Lakeville South
Farmington
SW Christian
Lakeville North
Mankato
Owatonna
New Prague
Rochester Century
Rochester Mayo
Northfield
Rochester JM/L