Despite losing last year’s Mr. Lacrosse Connar Dehnert and multiple contributors on the backend, defending state champion White Bear Lake asserted its status as a consistent contender with a thrilling 9-8 win over Wayzata on Saturday. 

 

“It’s huge, seeing that we’re such a young team and how we put (the team) together,” senior midfielder Shane Olsen said after scoring four goals in the win. 

 

Bears’ freshman attacker Casey Cunningham also asserted himself on Saturday, snagging a pass and launching a rocket of a shot past Trojans goalie Will Ramert for the game-winning score with 2:30 to play in regulation.

 

The goal was Cunningham’s first at the varsity level. 

 

“I just wanted to not hit him this time,” Cunningham said, referring to his several scoring chances that were previously foiled by Ramert.

 

“Finally,” White Bear Lake coach Brandon Husak said with a chuckle about Cunningham’s breakthrough. 

 

“The kid had a bunch of great opportunities, a bunch of mechanically great shots, he just wasn’t finding the back of the net,” Husak explained. 

 

If the goal provides Cunningham with a level of comfort on the varsity playing field, that could be bad news for opposing teams. 

 

“He just needed to get one to kind of get that flush of high school lacrosse by him and let him relax,” Husak said. 

 

Cunningham’s goal is a small mark of validation for the program that has matured greatly over the past several seasons, culminating in a state title last spring.

 

“It’s huge, seeing how our team has come together over the years, and how kids have been working endlessly to be in the varsity program,” said Olsen, a varsity regular since his freshman season, who scored 34 goals last year as a junior. 

 

Cunningham agreed with Olsen, and said that younger players are more than willing to dedicate their time to improving so they can suit up for the Bears. 

 

“Everybody wants to be on this varsity team,” Cunningham said. “And you’ve got to put in work to do it.”

Senior midfielder Shane Olsen scored four goals, and freshman attacker Casey Cunningham notched his first varsity goal with 2:30 left in regulation to lift White Bear Lake to a 9-8 win over Wayzata on Saturday afternoon at White Bear Lake. 

 

Senior midfielder Ethan Peterson recorded a goal and two assists, sophomore midfielder Jared Lueck scored twice, and senior attacker Joey Goudreau added a goal for the Bears (1-0). 

 

Senior attacker Amar Batra and sophomore attacker Brooks Hanson each tallied three goals for the Trojans (0-1), while junior attacker Riley Nelson and sophomore midfielder Alexander Sahli each scored once for the Trojans.