It didn’t spark a revolution, but the Bloomington Jefferson boys’ lacrosse team certainly fired a shot heard ‘round the state on Thursday night. 
 
The Jaguars overcame a 3-0 deficit in the first quarter en route to a 12-10 win over Prior Lake, widely regarded as one of the state’s top lacrosse programs, and Jefferson's opponent in last season’s Section 3 finals.
 
The Jaguars would eventually finish as the state’s runner-up, falling to White Bear Lake in the title game after edging the Lakers 9-6 to qualify for the state tournament. 
 
“This game attests to our offseason program,” Jefferson coach Scott Cater said. "These kids are committed to working in the offseason because they knew we played Prior Lake (in) game one,” Cater said.
 
Senior attacker Ryan Graff doesn’t get a very long offseason, spending his winter as the leading scorer for the Jaguars boys’ hockey team, and then trading his skates for cleats just weeks later. 
 
Graff, an all-american selection by the state coaches’ association, showed no ill effects from hockey season, scoring three goals and dishing out two assists in the win. 
 
“Ryan Graff on the attack, you had (Justin) Higgins winning faceoffs in the midfield, you had (Andrew) Broman shutting (the Lakers) down on the backside,” Cater said, ticking off Jefferson's senior captains and their contributions to Thursday’s win. 
 
“Those three are our leaders, so all three of them, at any phase of the field, you’re going to see those guys stepping up and calming us down,” Cater explained. 
 
While Graff was a known commodity entering the season, senior attacker Jason Karau was prepared to step into a more noteworthy role this year after scoring 10 goals as a junior. 
 
Karau filled his new role in fantastic fashion, scoring three goals and showcasing a laser beam of a shot.
 
“I think I get open for shots really well, and that’s my type of game,” Karau said. 
 
Karau also said that although this is the first game of the season, beating a Section 3 rival with talent and depth is a great way to start the 2016 campaign. 
 
“It’s thrilling,” Karau said. “Beating a team like (Prior Lake) is a huge moment for our season.”

Prior Lake's Carter Collins (22) works the ball up field. Photo by Cheryl Myers

First Report

Senior attacker Ryan Graff scored three goals and added two assists to lead Bloomington Jefferson to a 12-10 win over Prior Lake on Thursday night at Jefferson High School. 
 
Fellow senior attackers Jason Karau and Michael Goedderz also scored three goals for the Jaguars (1-0), who defeated the Lakers in last season’s Section 3 finals.
 
Jefferson sophomore midfielder Princeton Oppong added two goals, and senior midfielder Jay Johnson recorded a goal and an assist in the victory. 
 
Senior midfielder Matt Denman scored a game-high four goals and notched two assists for Prior Lake (0-1), while senior midfielder Ryan Larson and senior attacker Justin Ranagan each scored twice. 
 
Senior attacker Evan Bush and senior midfielder Ben Ward each scored one goal for the Lakers. 

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