Prior Lake proved it can succeed at any speed while cruising to its first league championship.

The Lakers, who average more than 12 goals per game, found scoring difficult against Lakeville South’s zone defense in their matchup Tuesday at Prior Lake High School.

But they adapted gracefully to the tactic - and the slower pace - and defeated the Cougars 5-2 to secure the South Suburban Conference outright title and remain unbeaten.

“It was a little weird,” Lakers senior attackman Conner Anderson said. “Their defense was really good.

“We just had to adjust, hold the ball longer and not make bad decisions,” he added. 

Anderson did his part in the transition, notching his 24th goal of the season. The senior has been impressive after registering no points last year.

Prior Lake senior Taylor Kropp echoed Anderson’s analysis of the game. The midfielder also said the Lakers’ ability to adjust their tempo and make better decisions were crucial to the victory over a quality Cougars club. 

“The last couple games we’ve had a tendency to force it, and this game we did a better job of slowing it down,” Kropp said after dishing out two assists to bring his season total to 23.

Kropp and Anderson are members of a senior class that has shaped Prior Lake lacrosse. The seniors dedication has been instrumental in the program’s success, culminating a 12-0 overall record (9-0 in the conference) and the No. 1 ranking in the poll put out by the Minnesota State High School Boys’ Lacrosse Coaches Association. 

“I’ve been with these seniors the whole way through,” Lakers coach Chris Fleck said. 

“They’ve been such a great class for this program,” Fleck continued. “This senior class will always be really special to me.”

Tuesday night was Senior Night at Prior Lake, adding even more significance to the hard-fought victory over No. 8 Lakeville South (9-4, 5-4) that wrapped up the program's first conference crown.

For all of their successes, Anderson and Kropp are following very different roads after graduation. 

Kropp will attend Arizona State, where he will play club lacrosse. 

“I thought club would be a good way to continue playing (lacrosse) at a competitive level, but (with) a more relaxed tone,” Kropp said. 

Anderson has decided to join the United States Army after the summer. 

“My brother is an Army Ranger,” Anderson said. “I always wanted to go into the Army.”

Senior midfielder Cullen Sowder scored three goals as Prior Lake wrapped up its first South Suburban Conference title and remained unbeaten after defeating Lakeville South 5-2 on Tuesday night at Prior Lake High School. 

Senior attackman Conner Anderson and junior midfielder Ben Ward had one goal apiece for the Lakers (12-0, 9-0), who are No. 1 in the rankings provided by the Minnesota State High School Boys’ Lacrosse Coaches Association. 

Sowder’s first goal was a laser shot that cleanly beat Cougars goaltender Chase Pankow and gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead just 3 minutes, 52 seconds into the first quarter. He added another goal midway through the second and recorded the hat trick with a goal late in the fourth.

Senior midfielder Tom Duckstad scored both goals for No. 8 Lakeville South (9-4, 5-4). 

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