After losing to Prior Lake in last year's state semifinals, Minnetonka gets an early shot at the defending state champions when they meet Thursday in a game that should be telling for both squads.
While the Skippers return with a loaded lineup ready to challenge for another trip to state, the Lakers have some obstacles to overcome to win their third state championship in four years.
Led by last year's Minnesota State High School Boys' Lacrosse Coaches Association Coach of the Year Aaron Oliver, Minnetonka has an exhaustive list of returners from a team that broke a nine-year state tournament drought. That list starts with senior attackman Andrew DiFrancesco. The Denver commit led the Skippers with 31 goals and tallied 21 assists last season. Overall, No. 2 Minnetonka returns three-quarters of its scoring from a year ago.
The Skippers also have experience in other key spots, with faceoff specialist Reed Gatenby and goalie Jack Bayless among a group of returners that includes all but one of the team's starting defenders.
Prior Lake's adjustments start at head coach. Chris Fleck, who led the Lakers to each of their state championships, stepped down prior to this season. Former assistant Casey Mithun was elevated to head coach and will lead a squad that graduated 15 seniors from last year's team.
The No. 1 Lakers aren't starting a rebuilding project, as a few key pieces at every level from the last season, including seniors Benjamin Jung, Luke Bloedow and Brian Kallberg. Jung (23-23-46) will be a key runner for Prior Lake. Bloedow, a midfielder, had 44 points a season ago while Kallberg will be a key piece on the defensive end.