This time, Blake was at full-strength and what a difference that made.
Playing a patient, ball-control style and sporting its full complement of players, Blake broke out to a comfortable first-half lead and cruised past Cretin-Derham Hall 17-10 in the first quarterfinal game Tuesday at Minnetonka High School.
The two teams had met early in the season, with Blake taking a tight 6-5 victory. The No. 3-seeded Bears (13-4) were a much different team this time around, their lineup not riddled with holes due to winter sports commitments.
“Early in the season, we were missing a lot of players,” Blake coach Sarah Fellows said. ”Slowly, we’ve morphed into the kind of team we want to be.”
That meant a balanced attack, which was evident on the scoresheet as Blake’s Sophie Skallerud and Sara McClanahan scored four goals and Shannon Ellis added three.
The Bears also played sound defense, never letting the Raiders gain momentum. They took a 5-1 lead midway through first half and maintained at least a four-goal advantage the rest of the game.
Blake’s 17 goals were the only time Cretin-Derham Hall gave up double-figures in goals all season.
“We did a good job,” Fellows said. “We were patient and kept possession and we moved the ball well.”
Caitlin O’Gary scored four goals and Megan Reis added three for Cretin-Derham Hall (14-3).
JIM PAULSEN
Blake controlled play from the outset, ran out to a 5-1 lead and cruised past Cretin-Derham Hall 17-10 to advance to Thursday’s girls’ lacrosse state tournament semifinals.
Sophie Skallerud and Shannon Ellis each scored four goals for the No. 3-seeded Bears (13-4).
The 17 goals scored by Blake marked the only time this season Cretin-Derham Hall (14-3) allowed double-figures in goals. The Bears had defeated the Raiders 6-5 in the early portion of the regular season.
Blake continued its run of perfection in the first game of state tournament play. The Bears, making their 11th consecutive state tournament appearance, have never lost a first-round game.
Check back later for more on the game.