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Girls' lacrosse: Defending champ Prior Lake set to play Lakeville South for the title

By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune, 06/17/21, 6:45PM CDT

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The Lakers dispatched Benilde-St. Margarets with a strong start while the Cougars escaped with a 10-9 victory over Rosemount.


Lakeville South's Tori Tschida put a shot on goal despite pressure from Rosemount's Peyton State. Tschida scored on the play, giving South a 9-8 lead that the Cougars would not relinquish. Photo: Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Severe sunburn on Sivanna O’Brien’s shoulders made a Lakeville South teammate’s playful postgame slap most unwelcomed.

Late in Thursday’s game, O’Brien’s comfort under duress produced the deciding goal in a 10-9 victory against Rosemount in the girls’ lacrosse state tournament semifinal at Stillwater High School


Fast start sends Prior Lake back to title game

Neither Prior Lake nor Benilde-St. Margaret’s foresaw an eight-goal surge to start Thursday’s state tournament semifinal.

The Lakers, who went onto win 18-10, were as ecstatic about the early advantage as the Red Knights were stunned.

“We love to push our fast breaks and that’s when I think we play our best. We found the open girls and everyone was on today,” Prior Lake senior attack Mackenzie Salentre said. “It was nice to get that lead so we’re not having the catch up later.”

And that’s exactly where Benilde-St. Margaret’s found itself.

“We said afterward, ‘Girls, if we hadn’t spotted eight,’ ” Red Knights coach Ana Bowlsby said. “We thought we were prepared.”

Bowlsby’s team fought back, but No. 1 seed Prior Lake (16-1) prevailed to earn a chance to win a second consecutive state championship on Saturday. The Lakers face No. 2 seed Lakeville South (16-1), a team they defeated 13-9 on May 13.

Bowlsby said her No. 4 seed Red Knights (14-4) wanted a re-do of the game’s first 14 minutes, when Salentre scored a hat trick and Jayne Bernick and Payton Bloedow each added two goals.

“We said, ‘Take a deep breath. You guys are fine. It was just one barrage,’ ” Bowlsby said.

The Red Knights regrouped and cut their deficit to 9-3 at halftime, then scored the first two goals of the second half. But Prior Lake answered with four consecutive goals, including two from Lindsey Grove.

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