BOYS Top 20 Preview: #7 East Ridge

Continuing on with our top 20 preview… remember, these are the final 2024 rankings as provided by LaxNumbers.Com. This is algorithm based. Similar to an RPI in college athletics this ranking system takes into account record, strength of schedule and margin of victory. There is nothing on the site that gives us the exact algorithm but I do know that the most accurate version of it will be after all games are played in a season. Due to who a team plays, when they play a certain team, etc, etc… the Lax Numbers Rankings usually have some head scratchers until the last few weeks of the season. That being said, an algorithmic based system leaves bias out of the equation. While bias/subjectivity can have it’s place in polls, using this system to do a team preview gives an easy list for us to work off.

East Ridge. This team has been on a roller coaster the last few years. From 2014 to 2019 they has a combined record of 67-28. They were a perennial power that was routinely in section final games, however, never broke through to state tournament.

From 2021-2023, they went through a rebuild and went 19-23 over those three seasons, relying on a younger class of kids coming up and taking their lumps.

Well… last year, the Raptors were BACK. They went 14-2 and lost a close game in the section 3 final to eventual state consolation champion Eagan.

“Tale of the Tape”

*according to LaxNumbers

**according to MN Lax Hub

• 2024 Record: 14-2

• Strength of Schedule: 73.76 (20th in MSHSL)*

• Team Offense: Averaged 14.94 Goals For per game (2nd in MSHSL)**

  • Graduated Senior Production: 35.2%

• Team Defense: Averaged 7.69 Goals Against per game (28th in MSHSL)**

  • Graduated Defensive Personnel: Brody Goertzen (Defense), Luke Macke (LSM), William Corrigan (Defense)

Offense Returning

• Kadon Baron (33/32)

• Austin Griffith (39/12)

• Leo Stalsberg (29/15)

• Oliver Stalsberg (31/12)

• Mac O’Brien (13/0)

Defense Returning

Aiden Huseboe (Defense)

Henry Burns (Defense)

Haydin Galvan (Defense)

Ryan Shanley (Goalie)

2025 Schedule

They only have 11 games listed right now but, within the Suburban East they will have some big clashes against White Bear Lake (#13), Stillwater (#4), Woodbury (#12) and Cretin - Derham Hall (#20)

OOC schedule looks a bit incomplete as of now, but, they do have Hudson in April and Lakeville North (#2) at the end May. Hudson should be better this year and is usually one of Wisconsin’s top programs. North, is well, north.

I believe they will play someone on the west side in the 2nd Annual East/West Showdown. Last year it was Buffalo, not sure if that will be the same this year or if it will rotate. Overall, the E/W showdown was a great idea/event that allowed us to see some matchups that don’t normally happen.

Final Thoughts

East Ridge was back as a top team once again in 2024 and gets a big chunk of their team back in 2025. This group has been rolling out at varsity as young guns for a few years now and last year was the first glimpse of them as upperclassmen. Their goalie is only a sophomore and has been starting between the pipes since his 8th grade year.

This team had a great offense last year but will need to solve the graduation of second leading scorer and big downhill athletic midfielder, Wiet Ruetter. He was a big initiator for them and created some matchup problems, athletically, for their opponents at midfield. However, They do get 2 elite attackmen back in Kaden Baron and Austin Griffith and a strong line of experienced midfielders with the Stalsberg brothers and Mac O’Brien. I don’t think scoring will take too much of a hit with what they have returning.

The other big thing is the graduation of Brandon Muth their face-off specialist. Muth, largely overlooked in the 2024 class among face-off specialists went 75% at the X last season and added 9 points. East Ridge’s identity was efficient offense on the back of domination at the face-off X and great goaltending. While their team defense was middle of the pack on GA/G, they masked that by getting possessions and scoring a lot. The good news is they have a really good face-off specialist coming up in Willem Middlecamp that will step into the spotlight role. He saw action in 9 games last year and went 55% so, we could see a continuation of the Raptor’s success again in 2025.

Overall, I think East Ridge should be back in top 10 conversations in 2025 and with section 3 wide open, this could be a great window for them to make their first state tournament.