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Prior Lake thumps Eden Prairie to win first championship

By SOUICHI TERADA, Star Tribune, 06/15/19, 5:00PM CDT

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The Lakers' 17-12 victory was their first title in four state tournament tries and came against the state's premier girls' lacrosse program.


Prior Lake players celebrate after receiving the state championship trophy. Photo: NICOLE NERI • nicole.neri@startribune.com

After Prior Lake allowed three consecutive goals to lose an early lead in the first half against Eden Prairie, the Lakers and sophomore Payton Bloedow turned on a switch.

It started with a 5-0 run by the Lakers to enter halftime with a 9-5 lead Saturday at Chanhassen High School. Then Bloedow took over.

The midfielder scored five of her six goals in the second half — adding three assists for the game — to leading Prior Lake to its first state title with a 17-12 victory over top-ranked Eden Prairie.

All Bloedow said she needed was a push from her coach, Heather Pierson, for the explosion.

“(Pierson) told me, ‘You got to shoot harder than that if you want to score,’ ” Bloedow said. “I tried to do that and I think it worked.”

First report

For the second consecutive year, a first-time champion was crowned in girls' lacrosse as Prior Lake defeated out Eden Prairie 17-12 in the title game Saturday Chanhassen High School.

After falling behind by one in the first half, the Lakers scored five consecutive goals to enter the break with a 9-5 lead.

From there, they never looked back. The Eagles chipped at the lead in the second half, stringing together three consecutive goals at one point, but Prior Lake’s lead proved insurmountable.

Sophomore Payton Bloedow led the Lakers (18-1) with six goals and three assists, with five of those scores coming in the second half. Lauren Wick and Mackenzie Salentre also had three goals for Prior Lake.

Eden Prairie (17-2) suffered its first loss to a Minnesota team this season. The Eagles were making their 12th championship game appearance in 13 seasons and had won three consecutive titles from 2015-17. Last year the Eagles finished runner-up to Apple Valley. 

Check back later for more on the game.


Prior Lake midfielder Josie Wilhelm (2) celebrates with teammate Josie Kropp (8) after scoring to tie the game 5-5 in the first half against Eden Prairie. Photo: NICOLE NERI • nicole.neri@startribune.com

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