BOYS - Benilde-St. Margaret’s
2023 Record
18-1. State 3rd Place
Lost Notables?
Caio Stephens - 104 GBs (!), 69 CTs and 21 Pts!! (best season an LSM has ever had, statistically?)
Carsen Brandt – 23 Goals, 29 Assists
Robby Hoyt - 19 Goals, 12 Assists
Returning Notables?
Gus Bell - 51 Goals, 21 Assists
Sky Rold - Captain, 52 pts & 27 GBs in 2022 as a sophomore - missed 2023 with knee injury.
Dylan Parker - 36 Goals, 20 Assists
Dylan Popehn - 21 Goals, 18 Assists
Riley Murphy - 51 GBs, 34 CTs
Jack Bourget - 50 GBs, 50 CTs
Will Conner - 41 GBs, 52 CTs
Axel Esco - .693 SV%, 4.25 GAA
Instant Reaction
When it comes to BSM, I am really not concerned with “who they lost” - as they seem to be pretty immune to graduation. I will say, losing Caio will be felt big time. From the handful of BSM games I watched… he was the heartbeat of that team. He brought a swagger and energy to the field and when the team maybe wasn’t playing how they wanted it, it was always him who made the big “juice play” to get the boys going. He will be missed. Brady Marcus is a talented pole who I am sure will step in and be great from a lacrosse skill perspective, but, it’s those intangibles from Caio that will need to be replaced.
Second, in Minnesota, when you have a player like Gus Bell, you can go far. MN lacrosse is, unfortunately, still at a point where you can lean on one superstar and do really well. Maybe not win the state championship, but you can win a lot of games with a superstar. Gus is that. And, fortunately for the red knights, there is plenty of talent around him. Gus Bell is my front-runner for the 2024 Mr. Lacrosse award. The kid is an absolute machine. Sky Rold is an elite player that was sidelined all of last year with a knee injury. Assuming he will be cleared and ready to go by spring season, that will be beneficial to the BSM offense because when he’s on the field, he’s a difference maker.
Last, but certainly not least, the Red Knights had a defense that was stout last year only giving up 4.36 GPG (mind blown) and will return a good chunk of their guys. Their Goalie Axel Esco is back along with starting close defenseman Bourget, Conner and Murphy. Replacing Caio Stephens will be action item #1 for Joe Bear and his defense. Defense is a team game, but, Caio brough a special spark to a really good defense and was amazing in transition (he was their 7th leading point producer as a pole!!).
The Future
Brady Marcus - LSM
Holton Vanderlinde - M
Griffin Elliot - M
Jack Anderson - M
Josh Ims - G
These guys had some production in 2023 and will most likely be looking to take on a more important role with the big squad in 2024. Josh Ims will have to wait one more year behind Esco, but, a very good keeper ready to have two years in 2025 & 2026.
2024 Schedule
BSM never really left much on the table from a scheduling standpoint. Everyone wants a piece of them so they can pickup the best OOC games they desire. Their conference is hit/miss – they will get good matchups against Chanhassen and Bloomington Jefferson. New Prague could be interesting as they have a strong Junior Class that has been basically playing varsity together since 9th grade when the program formed. Orono is also an interesting conference opponent, who gave them some fits last year in a game most thought BSM would dominate. Last year OOC games were Stillwater, Valley, PL, Edina, STA, Moorhead and Centennial. Honestly, that’s impressive. If they keep the same schedule, we should know a lot about where BSM is at by the time sections roll around.
In Conclusion
BSM is probably, one again, the favorite on paper. I honestly could have listed their entire returning varsity roster on notable returners. The ones who weren’t listed would probably be top kids at other programs. I do, however, think there are more teams state-wide this year that can give them legit games, so, I don’t feel as strongly about, “it’s just a race to who plays BSM in the final” - which, ended up being wrong this past season anyway! With the amount of talent they have accumulated after the past 5 years of dominance, the tank just is being refilled and they will be a force to deal with again in 2024.
Next Week: Chanhassen
