BOYS Top 20 Preview: #5 Eagan
Admittedly, I thought Eagan’s “year” was 2023 and to be fair, they made the section final game and lost in a 4OT thriller to a CDH team that got hot at the right time. But, I thought they lost too much depth from the graduation of their 2023s to rebound in 2024, and, I couldn’t have been more wrong. They had new players step up and were just as good in 2024, winning Section 3 and ending up as your state consolation champions. Tip of the Cap to the team we call the Cardiac Cats
“Tale of the Tape”
*according to LaxNumbers
**according to MN Lax Hub
2024 Record: 15-4
Strength of Schedule: 76.03 (7th in MSHSL)*
Team Offense: Averaged 13.26 Goals For per game (3rd in MSHSL)**
Graduated Senior Production: 81.6%
Team Defense: Averaged 8.37 Goals Against per game (39th in MSHSL)**
Graduated Defensive Personnel: Cullen O’Leary (LSM), Karsen Thissen (Defense), Ryan Hanson (Defense)
Offense Returning
Ethan Wollack (35/33)
Gavin Luhrs (1/0)
Blake Pavek (1/0)
Defense Returning
Charlie Heinlein (Goalie)
Seth Kohlemainen (Pole)
Jackson Thomas (Pole)
2025 Schedule
South Suburban will feature ranked matchups against: Prior Lake (#2), Lakeville North (#3), Farmington (#11), The Valley (#14) & Rosemount (#17). No matter the year, it seems that Eagan is ripe for a big upset in one of these big SSC games…. although, they will be the favorite in 3 of these games.
Out of conference schedule has Monticello, STA (which is always a spirited “section” contest), Mahtomedi, Moorhead and Northfield.
Final Thoughts
Eagan had a fantastic season in 2024 and was led by an elite senior class. The big question mark is how do you replace that many top contributors in one year? Eagan seems to have it figured out as they prove to be a tough squad year in and year out. They are well coached and play a unique brand of lacrosse that their opponents struggle to play against. They get a couple D poles back and their goalie. But outside of Wollack, the next offensive producers only had one goal each last year.
I will say, they might be elite players that just had to sit behind such a big group of upperclassmen, but, depth of players who got to see minutes last year is pretty thin just looking at the roster. Admittedly, I don’t scout much JV lacrosse, so, by all means there could be another great group coming up.
Eagan, once again, becomes a mysterious player heading into the spring but one thing is for certain, they will are worth the price of admission and always good for a couple thrillers throughout the year. Also shoutout to ETV for their broadcast/stream efforts during the season - extremely well done across the board!