Calvin Dahl picked a good time to turn in a breakout performance.
The senior attacker scored a career-high five goals to lead Lakeville North over South Suburban Conference rival Rosemount 15-11 on Tuesday night, vaulting the Panthers to the top of the league standings.
“We’ve been talking about how we need more of a presence from our attack, and they did just that (tonight),” Lakeville North coach Jeff Wright said.
Dahl’s now has 16 goals this season, making him the sixth Panther with 14 or more goals, which has helped the Panthers overcome the challenge of returning just three starters from last season.
“I don’t think anyone ever expected us to be this good,” Wright said. “Losing seven of our ten starters and having new guys step in, it’s been awesome."
Despite the personnel losses, Lakeville North (9-2, 7-1) keeps winning and has ascended to the No. 4 ranking in the latest state coaches’ poll.
Dahl scored all of his goals after the first quarter on Tuesday, pacing the Panthers as they held on during the No. 2 ranked Irish’s furious comeback attempt in the second half.
“I just went out there and performed,” Dahl said. “I just felt the hype, wanted to get out there and play for my team.”
Having pride in suiting up for Lakeville North is something fellow senior Max Johnson can relate to, as he abstained from playing for Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League in favor of returning to the lacrosse field.
“If I would’ve (left), I would’ve regretted not playing lacrosse this year,” Johnson said. “Coming back and playing with the boys has been a dream come true.”
Johnson has been a thorn in Rosemount’s side on both the field and ice for some time now, totaling four goals and seven points in two wins during the 2015-2016 hockey season and recording a hat trick in last year’s 17-10 win over the Irish on the lacrosse field.
Depth and inspired performances from individual players are certainly part of the Panthers’ success, but an ability to concentrate on only the game at hand has its place in the Panthers’ psyche.
The Panthers perform a breathing exercise before and after each game, and act that Wright says helps his team mentally refresh upon entering and exiting the field.
(When) we enter a stadium, we leave everything from the outside on the outside,” Wright explained. “And after games, we leave things here.”
