No conference spoiler here.

Top-seeded Lakeville North (15-2) used a big third period and ball control late to hold off South Suburban Conference boys lacrosse rival Eagan 14-11. Five different Panthers scored goals in the third for a commanding 13-6 lead in the state quarterfinals at Minnetonka High School.

“Typically, third quarters have not really been our best,” Panthers coach Jeffery Wright said.

Lakeville North needed its best third quarter of the season after Eagan (9-8) stuck around like glue in a 6-4 first half. Despite a 17-4 regular season rout of the Wildcats, the Panthers never led by more than two goals in the opening half Wendesday.

“We looked to really reset things,” Wright said.

Pushing reset worked as Jack Thomas and Luke Spanier scored goals in the opening minutes of the second half. The attack continued to cut through Eagan's defense with three more scores by Alec Jensen, Calvin Dahl and Luke Anderson in the period. Jensen finished with a team-high four goals in the contest.

“He did have a great game, one of his better games,” Wright said of Jensen.

Max Johnson also turned in a big performance with a goal and four assists. He helped ice the game on an assist for Spanier's third goal in the fourth period for a 14-10 lead when Eagan attempted to rally big.

Brandon Wuertz scored two of his four goals in the final frame for Eagan, and Andrew Chvatal added his third at the time. Eagan closed the gap to three goals twice but time ran out.

“It was a great thing on our part,” Wildcats coach Bob Felter said of his team's effort.

Eagan battled injuries early in the season when the 17-4 loss to Lakeville North took place. Since, the Wildcats went 8-3 and made the state tournament.

“We realized we had to play a little harder,” Panthers goalie Drew Bouman said about the rematch.

Lakeville North will face its own past next in a semifinal showdown with Wayzata on Thursday in Chanhassen. The Panthers fell in the semifinals to Rosemount last year at the same venue.

Prepping for a return trip ramped up back in April for Lakeville North during its team trip to Camp Ripley. A weekend of team building and goal-setting made clear the goal of getting past state's second round.

“They know that this is a familiar situation for us to be in,” Wright said. '”We've got to come out with a different result.”

It's the closest Lakeville North can get to setting reset on last year too.

Familiar faces could a spoil a season at such a juncture as a state tournament. But the Lakeville North boys' lacrosse team fought through it.

The Panthers defeated conference rival Eagan 14-11 on Thursday in the state tournament quarterfinals at Minnetonka High School. Max Johnson led the Panthers with five points.

Lakeville North had dispatched the Wildcats 17-4 during the regular season.

Eagan matched the No. 1 seed Panthers throughout the first half and trailed just 6-4 at the break. Lakeville North expanded its lead to 13-6, sparked by two of Alec Jensen's four goals.

Still Eagan put up a fight in the fourth quarter, scoring five goals. But the Panthers held on with solid ball control late in the game. Eagan has not defeated its South Suburban Conference rival since 2013.

Lakeville North will play Wayzata on Thursday in the semifinals at Chanhassen.

Check back later for more on the game.