Quarterly Check In & Section Preview - Boys
Section 1
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-1a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
Lakeville North (9-4)
Farmington (11-2)
New Prague (9-4)
Owatonna (8-5)
Northfield (7-6)
Lakeville South (5-7)
Mankato (4-8)
SW Christian/Jordan (9-4)
Rochester Century (1-11)
How clueless were we?
Katie had Mankato 3rd (7th) amd South 4th (6th)
Shoutout - PMAC and Ted had New Prague in top 4
Thoughts: This has been a section dominated by Lakeville North and they are probably the favorite again this year. Farmington played them to a 12-11 game a couple weeks ago and is the most likely contender but New Prague and Owatonna have had nice seasons and are not going to be easy outs.
Section 2
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-2a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
Chanhassen (8-5)
Minnetonka (7-6)
Orono (6-7)
Buffalo (5-8)
Chaska (6-7)
Delano/Rockford (8-5)
Mound Westonka (4-9)
Waconia (4-9)
Hutchinson (6-7)
Holy Family (0-12)
How clueless were we?
Ted is the only one to have Chanhassen 1st in the section
Katie and Ted had Mound Westonka 4th (7th)
Thoughts: The road to state for section 2 got easier this fall when Shakopee and Eden Prairie were moved into section 6. It seemed like Chanhassen’s section to lose, but, Minnetonka, despite being up and down this year, has been able to stay competitive with some of the top teams in the state and a strong schedule. Orono has the best goalie in the section and as we saw last year in section 3, anything is possible with a hot goalie. Buffalo at the 4 seed is interesting, they have lost 6 straight games, but, they did play Chanhassen to a one goal game in early April. Chaska has looked much improved over the final few weeks playing Chaska and Orono close. I would not be surprised to see Chaska upset Buffalo in the quarters.
Section 3
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-3a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
East Ridge (12-1)
Woodbury (10-3)
Eagan (10-3)
CDH (9-4)
St. Thomas Academy (8-5)
Hastings (4-9)
TrIMAC (8-4)
Park (4-9)
St. Park/Two Rivers (4-9)
Simley (0-13)
Thoughts: This is a wild section. I think any of the top 5 teams could win this section, but, I also think any of the top 5-7 teams could provide an upset in the first round. These teams have all beat up on eachother this season, anything goes. CDH has won 5 games in a row, but, gets a rematch against STA who they played a week ago. Woodbury beat eagan a week ago, could maybe be a rematch in the semis. Eastridge and Woodbury played to an OT game early in April. This is the people’s section and any of these teams could win it
How clueless were we?
No one had East Ridge first in the section…but all three had them in top 4
Katie had STA 1st in the section (5th)
PMAC had Hastings 4th (6th)
Section 4
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-4a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
Stillwater (11-2)
White Bear Lake (7-6)
Mounds View (7-6)
Mahtomedi (5-8)
Hill-Murray (7-6)
Irondale (5-6)
Roseville (6-7)
Totino-Grace (2-10)
Thoughts: Swing and a miss on this section. Stillwater is as advertised and has been strong all season. It is their section to lose but we were wrong about a lot of teams. Mahtomedi was not as good as I personally expected this year… haven't seen them play so not sure what the deal is there. Mound View is much better than expected and played stillwater to a one goal game. White Bear Lake is up and down… they have had some weird losses and some big wins (beat MV by 5). Stillwater has shown to make games closer than expected but they are definitely the favorite if I had to pick.
How clueless were we?
PMAC had Totino-Grace 4th (8th)
Ted had Irondale 3rd (6th) & Roseville 4th (7th)
No one had Mounds View in top 4 (3rd)
Section 5
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-5a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
BSM (12-1)
Wayzata (12-1)
Rogers (12-1)
Maple Grove (10-3)
Armstrong (8-5)
Hopkins/Park (6-7)
Blake (4-9)
Breck (1-11)
OPC (1-12)
Thoughts: Obviously, the juggernaut, BSM is the favorite… but the top 3 seeds are all 12-1 this season which is very impressive. BSM has had the toughest schedule by lax numbers (76.30) but Wayzata is not far behind (73.51) and Rogers is down the ranks quite a bit (68.31). Rogers has not seen a team anywhere near the caliber of BSM and Wayzata so that will be interesting to see how they respond to a tougher matchup. Maple Grove and Armstrong seem to be down a bit but still have put together respectable seasons and have solid pieces to be successful. The big elephant in the room is if anyone can run with BSM for 4 quarters. Wayzata’s defense is exceptional and maybe, just maybe, could slow BSM down enough to keep the game close.
How clueless were we?
Ted had Maple Grove 2nd (4th), but, picked 4 of the top 5
Mystery Source and PMAC both had Wayzata 2nd.
Pmac had Blake 4th (7th)
Nobody had Rogers in the top 4
Section 6
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-6a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
Prior Lake (12-1)
Bloomington Jefferson (11-1)
Edina (9-3)
Eden Prairie (8-5)
Rosemount (6-7)
The Valley (6-7)
Shakopee (6-7)
Bloomington Kennedy/Burnsville (5-8)
Holy Angels (1-11)
MPLS (2-11)
Thoughts: Well, this section seemed like it was the section of doom 2 months ago. But, turned out that maybe it was more manageable than we originally thought. Prior Lake and Jefferson have been formidable this season and already played to a one goal game. Edina has had their ups and downs, but at 9-3 are still very much a contender. Eden Prairie was much better than I thought they’d be this season, they have shown that they can run with anyone and keep games close. Their defense and goalie are strong and play a gritty style. Rosemount, Valley and Shakopee all at 6-7 is probably “underachieving” (by their standards), but, having seen all of these teams this season - they are definitely good enough to upset any of the top 3. Shakopee has won 6 of their last 9 after an 0-4 start. Valley and Rosemount have played many of the top teams close and multiple one goal losses. Every game will be tough from the quarterfinals on
How clueless were we?
Katie is the only one to have PL first in section
Katie is only one to have EP in top 4
PMAC had The Valley 4th (6th)
Ted had Shako 4th (7th)
Section 7
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-7a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
Andover (10-3)
Duluth (9-4)
Hermantown/Proctor (10-3)
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (9-2)
Centennial (6-7)
Champlin Park (10-3)
Blaine (5-8)
Chisago Lakes (6-6)
Anoka (4-9)
Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids (6-7)
Forest Lakes (1-12)
Grand Rapids/Greenway (2-11)
Duluth Marshall (2-9)
Thoughts: This section decided to go straight QRF for the seeding and it turned out to be really messed up. It ignores head to head matchups and strength of schedule. Centennial, the 5 seed, beat Andover, the 1 seed 20-8. No shade to Andover, they have had an amazing turnaround of a season. CEC, an amazing story and first ever mshsl season, played the bottom 8 teams in the league. Centennial played BSM, PL, Chanhassen and Edina OOC and were penalized for it. While I would agree no team really took the reins to being a solid top seed in this section - I think that this is an improper way to seed a section
How clueless were we?
All three had Centennial first in the section (they are 5th)
All three had Chisago Lakes in the top 4 (they are 8th)
PMAC (2nd) and Ted (4th) had Blaine in their top 4 (they are 7th)
Katie had Anoka 4th (they are 9th)
Shout out - PMAC is the only one with C-E-C in the top 4
Shout out - Ted picked Duluth 2nd and katie had them 3rd
Section 8
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2024-section-8a-lacrosse-boys-tournament
Moorhead (10-3)
STMA (9-4)
Monticello (9-4)
Sartell/Sauk Rapids (6-7)
Brainerd (7-6)
St. Cloud (7-6)
Rocori (5-8)
Elk River/Zimmerman (2-11)
Providence Academy (5-7)
Big Lake/Princeton (5-8)
Becker (1-11)
Thoughts: Moorhead had a rough start to the year but looked to have righted the ship. They got a big regular season win vs STMA a week ago to lock in the 1 seed. STMA has had a very nice season and is certainly capable of beating Moorhead but at this point the Spuds seem to be the favorite to represent section 8 once again. Shoutout to Monticello for a nice season with a new coaching staff and Brainerd for a great turnaround going 7-6 after being 3-11 a year ago. It seems like it’s a crash course for a rematch between STMA and Moorhead but Monticello has won 6 games in a row.
How clueless were we?
Ted didn’t have Monti in his top 4
Ted and Katie had Elk River in the top 4
Ted is the only one to pick Moorhead to be first in the section
PMAC and Ted had St. Cloud in the top 4