Prior Lake’s Matt Denman will do anything for his team. 

On the field, the senior midfielder leads the Lakers in assists (24) and points (46), while off it, he takes his lumps to help team harmony. 

Take for instance, Prior Lake's recent trip to play paintball. Denman's standout status on the field did not translate to the course as he was pounded with paintballs. He even conceded that a few underclassmen splattered him with paint. 

“I was one of the worst,” Denman said with a laugh.

No one was laughing at Denman Saturday afternoon as he and Prior Lake thumped previously undefeated Mahtomedi 13-1 in a matchup featuring two of the state's top-ranked teams.

Denman said playing paintball has helped unite the Lakers, who scored four goals in the first quarter and five in the third to cruise past a depleted Zephyrs.

“Earlier in the season, we weren’t clicking, and today we were,” Prior Lake coach Chris Fleck said. 

Also working against the Lakers in the first half of the season was a touch schedule that included games against many of the teams ranked in the state coaches’ poll (No. 1 Edina, No. 3 Lakeville North, No. 5 Eastview and No. 8 Bloomington Jefferson). Prior Lake lost each one. 

“We try to play the hardest schedule we possibly can so that we’re ready to play (at a high level) towards the end of the season,” Fleck explained.

Enter second-ranked Mahtomedi, who had rocketed up the rankings with it's 9-0 start.

But on Saturday, the Zephyrs were hampered by injuries and the No. 9-ranked Lakers took advantage, playing like a team that's trending upward.

Denman tallied three goals and four assists to lead the offensive explosion, an outburst that Fleck attributes to tempo. 

“Matt’s a guy that brings energy to the team,” Fleck said. “When he brings a high-energy (approach), we play really well." 

That style has helped Denman amass a team-high 46 points this season. His 22 goals is second most on the team behind Ben Ward (28 goals), 

Junior attacker Carter Collins, who scored three goals in Saturday’s win, said Prior Lake's success is also a result of the team's culture of accountability, one that is embodied by a singular mantra adopted for the remainder of the season. 

“We built a motto of (being) 'All in,' ” Collins said, adding that teammates state their name, number and position as a means of identifying themselves before committing all of their effort to the game. 

After Saturday’s win, Collins increased his season goal total to 17, which has him at 35 points - the second most on the team. He led the Lakers with 42 points last year.

What will Prior Lake do to sustain its team chemistry?

“Whatever it takes to come together,” Collins answered.

Senior midfielder Matt Denman tallied three goals and four assists to lead Prior Lake to a resounding 13-1 victory over previously undefeated Mahtomedi on Saturday afternoon at Prior Lake’s Dan Patch Stadium. 

Carter Collins and Ben Ward each had three goals for Prior Lake (8-4), ranked No. 9 in the state coaches’ poll, while Evan Bush, Devin Truso, Bennett Holst and Ryan Larson scored one apiece. 

Senior midfielder Tyler Chalupsky scored the lone goal for the No. 2 Zephyrs (9-1).

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