Eden Prairie junior Nick Leivermann considers former lacrosse teammate Sean Patterson a mentor. Leivermann did him proud Tuesday, tying a state tournament single-game record with eight goals as the Eagles defeated Anoka 11-5.
“I really wouldn’t be where I am without him,” said Leivermann, who tied a record set last year in the quarterfinals by Matt Swanson of White Bear Lake.
The No. 3 seed Eagles needed the performance. After state tournament newcomer Anoka (15-2) cut its deficit to 6-3, Leivermann revived Eden Prairie with three goals.
Downplaying his big day, Leivermann said, “I would have zero goals without the other guys on the field.” Not that teammates let him forget.
“A couple guys were joking, ‘Pass the ball,’” he said.
Eden Prairie (12-5) led 3-0 in the first quarter when lightning delayed the game at Minnetonka High School for one hour and 45 minutes.
“Coming out of the delay, they played a lot better,” Leivermann said. “We didn’t mentally prepare as well as we should have.”
Anoka's Rhett Olson lead the Tornado with two goals in Tuesday afternoons matchup. Photo by Cheryl Myers.
First report
No. 3 seed Eden Prairie defeated Anoka 11-5 in the boys’ lacrosse state tournament quarterfinals on the strength of Nick Leivermann’s record eight goals.
The game Tuesday at Minnetonka High School was halted in the first quarter by rain, thunder and lightning with the Eagles leading 3-0. It resumed after a delay of about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Check back later for more on the game.
