Section 8 Preview: 2024 MSHSL Girls Lacrosse
The overall records of Section 8 from the 2023 season surprised us – much better and deeper than we expected.
We are excited to see how this plays out!
1-6 can pretty much go any way…can’t wait to see all the pretty colors on the Section 8 IG post…which is the only thing people see any way.
Mrs. Pmac’s Source’s Section 8 2024 Projected Top 4
First – Elk River/Zimmerman
Second – Buffalo
Third – St. Michael/Albertville
Fourth – Moorhead
Keeping Our Eye On – St. Cloud
Elk River/Zimmerman
2023 Record: 15-4
2023 Beat STMA in Section 8 Championship 7-5, won 2023 State Consolation Championship over East Ridge 11-9
State Tournament Appearances: 3 times - 2013 (as Elk River/Rogers/Zimmerman), 2022, 2023
2024 Schedule: Click here
Section 8 has been ruled by Elk River/Zimmerman for the past two years, since Maple Grove moved out after the 2021 season. ERZ has lost a few big guns the past two years (Annika Wozney in 2022 and Adria Kotzian in 2023). So, why on earth would they be our #1 seed? (7) 2024s and (6) 2025s…including their tendie - watch out for 2024 Katie Wozney and 2025 Lillian Osterman.
Supporting that take, from a highly placed source, “Katie Wozney is a menace on the draw circle, Osterman will step into some of Kotzian’s role. They also have a deep group of athletes like Brummer, Holte, Kucera, Gfoerer and Peterson who can all get goals, I’d expect that Brummer takes a big step forward this season.” ‘Nuff said - thats a better take then any stat grinding can ever get us!
Key wins:
Rosemount 9-7
Centennial 14-7
Armstrong 9-7
Buffalo 10-9
STMA 7-5
Chanhassen 11-10
East Ridge 11-9
Key losses:
Andover 5-4
Maple Grove 10-9
Champlin Park 11-8
Lakeville South 19-9
Key players they lose:
(4) 2023
Adria Kotzian (M) - 106 points/62 GB/59 DC - D1 American University
Isabella Dols (D/M) - 33 points/35 GB/14 FT
Key players coming back:
2024 Katie Wozney (M) - 33 points/86 GB/84 DC - D2 Northern Michigan
2025 Lillian Osterman (M) - 55 points/68 GB/77 DC
2024 Morgan Peterson (A) - 26 points/30 GB
2024 Addison Brandt (GK) - 7.80 GAA/50.4%
Buffalo
2023 Record: 8-7
2023 Lost in Section 8 semifinals to Elk River/Zimmerman 10-9
State Tournament Appearances: none
2024 Schedule: Click here
We were silly high on Buffalo last year. That…did not work out super well. They were 8-7, but only lose (3) 2023s…that’s why we are rolling with them again, and giving them the bump from the 4 seed they earned in sections last year, to the 2 spot this year in our preseason seeding projections. Bison Blvd can never claim they don’t still get some hype from the DTA family…even if P-Mac has disowned them.
From one of the source’s source, “While well coached, what is the loss of Ellie Toussaint going to mean for the squad?” We’re going to start finding out real quick.
Key wins:
Orono 14-7
CDH 15-12
Key losses:
Wayzata 10-5
STMA 9-7
Hopkins 11-8
Eden Prairie 18-4
Edina 16-6
Minnetonka 8-7
Elk River/Zimmerman 10-9
Key players they lose:
(3) 2023s
Ellie Toussaint (A) - 64 points - D1 Eastern Michigan
Victoria Viteri (M) - 29 points
Key players coming back:
2025 Hattie Toussaint (A/M) - 39 points/38 DC
2025 Bailey Mischke (A/D) - 26 points
2024 Evita Weiche (A/M) - 28 points - D2 Northern Michigan
2026 Rory Meyer (GK) - 9.34 GAA/59.5%
St. Michael Albertville
2023 Record: 10-6
2023 Lost to ERZ in Section 8 finals 7-5
State Tournament Appearances: none
2024 Schedule: Click here
St. Michael Albertville was the 2 seed and only lost (4) 2023s…but they were all major contributors. They’re going to need a little time sorting out their new rotation.
Key wins:
Buffalo 9-7
Hopkins 8-7
Moorhead 15-9
Key losses:
Minnetonka 15-3
Wayzata 13-9
Edina 16-4
Moorhead 11-10
Eden Prairie 18-3
Elk River/Zimmerman 7-5
Key players they lose:
(4) 2023s
Molly Ruhland - 67 points/66 DC - D2 Northern Michigan
Mylin Lemke - 30 GB/31 FT
Nikki Braun - 23 GB/20 FT
Key players coming back:
2025 Danika Weiland - 41 points
2027 Piper Peterson - 48 points
2024 Mia Hunter - 24 points
2025 Katarina Rice (GK) - 8.77 GAA/53.1%
Moorhead
2023 Record: 8-7
2023 Lost to STMA in Section 8 semifinal 15-9
State Tournament Appearances: none
2024 Schedule: Click here
We love the Spuds, we pray their social team is back in full force this year, and we can’t wait for SpudTV to fire up for the lax season. Moorhead brings back a lot of their scoring with 2025 Sydney Martinson and their keeper (we like that), 2027 goalie Lake Parr.
Key wins:
STMA 11-10
Grand Rapids/Greenway 11-10
Key losses:
Mounds View 10-9
Minnetonka 18-0
Hopkins 11-8
Lakeville North 10-5
Lakeville South 23-1
Grand Rapids/Greenway 19-15
STMA 15-9
Key players they lose:
(4) 2023s
Ava Nelson (M) - 30 points
Ally Harvala (D) 23 GB/18 FT
Key players coming back:
2025 Sydney Martinson (A) - 57 points/52 DC
2024 Abby Kurpius (A) - 29 points
2024 Aubrey Keeping (A) - 14 points - D3 UW Stevens Point
2027 Lake Parr (GK) - 12.68 GAA/46.6%
St. Cloud
2023 Record: 11-4
2023 Lost to Moorhead in Section quaterfinals 8-7
State Tournament Appearances: none
2024 Schedule: Click here
Slapping us a little in the face was the 11-4 St. Cloud squad. They lost a 22 goal scorer, but bring back virtually all else, including (2) 2026 goalies. We did not give the Crush the respect they earned with that record. Our eyes are a little more open this spring. Apologies Crush.
Key wins:
Brainerd 6-5 & 9-6
Key losses:
Chisago Lakes 10-3
Monticello 19-2
Moorhead 12-11 & 8-7
Key players they lose:
(4) 2023s
Abby Wright (D) - 30 GB
Olivia Thelen (A/D) - 20 GB
Eva Gay (A) - 22 points
Key players coming back:
2024 Jenna Amundson (M) - 60 points/48 DC
2024 Lauren Juncewski 26 points/46 DC
2025 Claire Staudinger (A/M) - 33 points
2026 Phoenix Novotny (GK) - 5.85 GAA/49.3%
2026 Cecilia Meemken (GK) - 3.42 GAA/47.4%
Monticello
2023 Record: 7-7
2023 Lost to Buffalo 17-6 in Section 8 quarterfinals
State Tournament Appearances: none
2024 Schedule: Click here
In 2021, the Magic of Monticello were the #2 seed in the section (and were upset by #10 Rogers). In 2023, they started out 0-5 against a very stout schedule…but finished 7-2 the rest ofd the season, to end at 7-7. They bring back a ton of their scoring and their goalies this year.
Its stuff like this that make Section 8 really interesting to watch.
Key wins:
St. Cloud 19-2
Key losses:
Buffalo 12-2 & 17-6
White Bear Lake 10-3
Chisago Lakes 10-8 & 10-7
STMA 9-2
Rogers 14-3
Key players they lose:
(4) 2023s
Briana Brenteson (D) - 34 GB/19 FT
Emily Johnson (M) - 12 points/27 DC
Key players coming back:
2024 Piper Perron (A) - 44 points
2025 Addison Kiphuth (A) - 47 points (11 games)
2024 Lauren Moorhouse (M) - 21 points/62 DC
2026 Julia DeChene (M) - 14 points/29 DC
2024 Bryn Dhalheimer (GK) - 6.62 GAA/56.3%
Brainerd
2023 Record: 7-8
2023 Lost to STMA In Section 8 quarterfinal 14-3
State Tournament Appearances: none
2024 Schedule: Click here
A little bit of a gripe here, as Brainerd only has 11 games worth of stats loaded in MLH. They finished 7-8, but lose their #1 scorer and #1 goalie. Might be tougher sledding than the teams we talked about already.
Big Lake
2023 Record: 5-9
2023 Lost to Becker in Section 8 First Round 16-3
State Tournament Appearances: none
2024 Schedule: Click here
In the biggest drop off we’ve seen, Big Lake loses their #2 scorer (29 points)…their #1 is a 2024 and brings back 35 points. Their third leading scorer had inly 10 points. Whoa. That’s a lot of action from two players…and now one of them graduated. Their goalie is a 2024, so the 2025 season might be really rough for Big Lake.
Rolling in at 4-10 last year, Becker (2024 Schedule) has a roster, but no grad years. Sorry, not a great Becker girls lacrosse mind. Rocori (2024 Schedule) brings back their two leader scorers from last year, but they clocked in at 12 points a piece. Their goalie graduated. They get the nod though over Sartell/Sauk Rapids (2024 Schedule) who had no roster…we work with what we have.