Blake seniors Anne Slusser and Lydia Sutton won lacrosse state championships as eighth-graders and plan to add their fifth consecutive titles as recent graduates.

Standard-bearers within the state’s top lacrosse program, Slusser and Sutton combined for five goals in a 18-2 blowout of Maple Grove in Tuesday’s state tournament quarterfinals at Chanhassen High School. But their effect on the top-ranked Bears (15-2) goes much deeper.

“There’s an elevated sense of responsibility this year,” said Blake coach Laura Mark, whose team will play Stillwater in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday at Chaska High School. “But they don’t feel like they have to carry the team on their backs because they don’t. There are a lot of other people to share the ball with on this team.”

Blake’s offensive potency is remarkable. Olivia Nolan leads the team with 73 goals, followed by Adelaide Winton (43), Sutton (41), Slusser (35) and Annie Lyman (21).

Behind the numbers, however, is perhaps the most resilient Bears team Mark has coached. Jordan Chancellor, Sara McClanahan and Lucy Nelson each missed more than three weeks because of illness and injury. But Slusser and Sutton helped new players acclimate.

The duo is playing is playing with perhaps more excitement and urgency than they did in their first tournament.

“We’re not just going to step on the field and play well just because of the name on our jerseys,” Slusser said.

Said Sutton: “There’s definitely an extra urge to go for the title. That would be a good way to go out.”

First report

Four-time girls' lacrosse state champion Blake had no trouble dispatching tournament newcomer Maple Grove.

The top-ranked Bears won 18-2 in Tuesday's quarterfinal game at Chanhassen High School.

Check back later for more on the game.