The improvement of Shakopee (13-3, 6-1) has come gradually, with the school taking small steps throughout Pollock’s tenure. It started with getting into the semifinals of the section tournament. The Sabers took a step further in 2021, as they made their first section final. They lost to the Storm 13-12 as Chanhassen made its first state tournament appearance. 

The Sabers followed that up with an 8-6 loss to the Storm in last year’s section final. 

“We push our guys to be better,” Pollock said. “We’re not always going to coddle. We push and it has paid off.”

Shakopee came out looking like a team ready to avenge a previous loss. The Sabers scored first and opened up a 4-1 lead in the first quarter.

“This group has been so up and down all year,” Pollock said. “But tonight, we were locked in. We hadn’t played like that all season. When we play like that, we can beat anybody.”

Chanhassen pushed back and tied the game thanks in part to the play of senior Carter Van Holland. He was the consistent offensive punch the Storm relied upon throughout Wednesday’s game.

“(Van Holland) is an amazing player,” Storm coach Jon Junker said. “We’re going to miss him. He’s been a good leader and played with a lot of passion.”

Shakopee countered and ended the half leading 6-5 thanks to a goal by sophomore Landon Toward. His brother, senior Linus Toward, has scored more than 50 goals this season. But Landon was the offensive juggernaut on Wednesday as he netted a hat trick.

“Our energy was super good,” Landon Toward said. “I was playing with a ton of confidence. Playing with my brother, we have really good connections. We’re always working together.”

The confidence of Shakopee got a bit of a boost early in the third quarter when goalie Weston Brosam took a run to the net. Without much pushback from the Chanhassen defense, Brosam fired a shot into the net, sending the Shakopee bench into a frenzy.

“At halftime, I talked to him and told him to go since they weren’t playing him tight,” Pollock said. “I actually told him to miss the net so we could get the ball back, but he stuck it. It was huge.”

Besides scoring his second goal ever, Brosam held his own in the crease, finishing with 11 stops and absorbing some late pushes from Chanhassen.

“That’s the best game he’s played,” Pollock said.

The Storm found some offensive success in the second half and nearly broke through to tie or take the lead. However, the bounces were not there for Chanhassen. It was on display late in the third quarter in the final seconds when the Storm hit the post. Moments later, Shakopee was on the other end as Zane Orchard scored to give his side a three-goal lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“I thought several times we got it within one goal that we were going to pull it off,” Junker said. “It wasn’t our night. We didn’t get the bounces we needed.”

Once the Sabers fended off the late Chanhassen push, the celebration was on. It was a big moment for the Towards, especially Linus, as he and the rest of the senior group got to celebrate some history.

“I’m really lucky to play with my brother and his buddies in their senior year,” Landon Toward said. “It’s such a really great group of guys. I wanted to get it done for them.”

Now, Shakopee heads to the state tournament for the first time for everyone, including Pollock.

“There was so much sacrifice over these past eight years,” Pollock said. “It’s a great day for Shakopee lacrosse.”