Academy of Holy Angels midfielder Scott McNamara sits shotgun on the car ride home from every practice and every game. It's another opportunity for him to pick up pointers on his lacrosse game.

McNamara is sits across from his brother Alex, who was a standout lacrosse player for the Stars and at the University of Minnesota-Duluth before becoming a Holy Angels assistant coach. He is also Scott’s personal lacrosse instructor.

“He’s on the sidelines every game, there at every practice,” the younger McNamara said. “He’s always there with me.”

Whether on the sidelines, or in the driver's seat, Alex's proximity is paying off for Scott, who credits his older brother – and role model – for much of his success this season. Scott leads the state in goals and points, adding to both totals after scoring a hat trick to help Holy Angels earn a 10-5 home victory over Cretin-Derham Hall in the regular-season finale Wednesday night.

It was McNamara’s 10th game with three or more goals this season. The senior has 57 goals and 82 points in 14 games, a significant increase from his junior year when he was selected First Team All-State and named the Stars’ Most Valuable Player after finishing with 33 goals and 54 points in 14 games.

Seven years older than Scott, Alex has plenty of experience to pass on. He scored 113 goals in his college career and was a four-time Upper Midwest Lacrosse League All-Conference attackman for the Bulldogs before graduating in 2012. 

During the rides home, the siblings sometimes talk about lacrosse or a different topic. Other times, they do not talk at all. But there is always a connection, Scott said. Even when words aren’t exchanged, they know what each other is thinking.

“Sometimes [the car rides are] quiet,” Scott added. “Sometimes they’re not.”

Scott, who committed to play lacrosse at Marquette University as a junior, obviously plays a major role in his team’s offense, but not always by scoring goals. Stars coach Eric Overman said McNamara's mere presence on the field benefits his teammates. 

“[McNamara] creates for his teammates,” Overman said. “It allows for guys to get more looks and more opportunities, which has elevated their games too.”

Players like seniors Tommy Kraus, Max Farmer and Cooper Sande have all scored at least 32 goals this season, make the Stars a team filled with just that – stars.

Junior attackman Owen Osborn took advantage of those opportunities in the victory over Cretin-Derham Hall (8-5) on Wednesday, notching his first career hat trick.

Osborn, who seemed to have received quite a bit of ribbing for his inability to finish goals in the crease, finally put one away.

His second goal of the night, which came midway through the first quarter, showed his progress. The junior caught a pass from Sande and threw a fake up high. The goaltender bit and Osborn shot low to score his 18th goal of the season.

“I’ve had trouble finishing lately,” Osborn said. “I’ve been working in practice on burying and it really worked out.”

Defense was one of the biggest factors in the win for Holy Angels (11-3), ranked No. 11 in the poll provided by the Minnesota State High School Boys' Lacrosse Coaches Association. The Stars’ defense, which has struggled at times this season, matched a season-low with five goals allowed against a Cretin-Derham Hall team notorious for good passing.

It’s an improvement for a group that has given up at least 10 goals in eight games. Wednesday night was a different story.

Osborn said playing “team defense” made for much cleaner slides and transitions in the defensive end. They practiced the defensive plan on Tuesday both on the field and off it by watching film and breaking down the strategy.

“We said we have to be more complete,” Overman said. “We need to be able to bear down when the time came, and they stepped up and accepted the challenge.”

Attackmen Scott McNamara and Owen Osborn each scored three goals to lead the Academy of Holy Angels past Section 6 rival Cretin-Derham Hall 10-5 in the regular-season finale Wednesday at the StarDome in Richfield.

The Stars (11-3), ranked No. 11 in the poll provided by the Minnesota State High School Boys' Lacrosse Coaches Association, also got two goals from both attackman Tommy Kraus and midfielder Cooper Sande. 

Holy Angels jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game with two goals from Osborn and a goal apiece from McNamara and Sande.

The Raiders (8-5) answered, dominating the rest of the quarter and cutting the lead in half by the end of the first.

A beautiful midrange snipe from Cretin-Derham Hall midfielder Sam Wackman made the score 4-3 midway through the second quarter, but the Stars pushed their lead back to two with a goal from Kraus just before halftime.

Holy Angels pulled away in the second half to win their ninth consecutive game.

McNamara scored twice in the third quarter to record his 10th hat trick of the season. His second goal was the best of the night, as he dodged two defenders to slip just outside the crease. His scoring instincts finished off the play, firing a shot past the shins of Raiders goalie Matt Kotta.

Osborn also completed his hat trick in the third quarter. It was the first of his career.  

The Stars' defense played one of its best games of the year, allowing just five goals – matching its regular-season best, which came on April 21 in a 22-5 victory over Minnehaha Academy. Holy Angels closed lanes down the middle, denying penetration and holding the Raiders to 11 shots on goal.

Stars goalie Will Harris finished with six saves.

Wackman and midfielder Cal Crawford each scored two goals, while Kotta stopped 13 shots for Cretin-Derham Hall. 

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