For the second consecutive year, the Prior Lake boys’ lacrosse team has proven it does not require the top seed to represent Section 6 at the state tournament, and that a top seed is never safe when the Lakers come to play.

The second-seeded Lakers (11-3) got two goals from sophomore midfielder Luke Bloedow in the final 6:21 of the game to edge Eastview 6-5 in the section finals on Thursday night at Burnsville High School.

“Luke was a guy that was on JV to start the year,” Prior Lake coach Chris Fleck said. “We kept telling the guys (that) we’re going to play the best players, and Luke stepped up and played a big role for us tonight.”

In 2016, the Lakers were awarded the No. 4 seed in the section playoffs before knocking off the top seed Bloomington Jefferson and No. 2 seed Edina en route to claiming the program’s first state championship.  

Bloedow’s two goals in Thursday’s helped erase a 5-3 deficit for the Lakers, as Eastview’s high-scoring duo of Noah Joseph and Noah Lindner threatened to break the game open for the Lightning.

“Just to give it all,” Bloedow said. “If you try your hardest you’ll get pulled up.”

Spearheading that defensive advantage was junior defender Preston Jelen, who returned from a high ankle sprain to command the Lakers’ back line.

“I worked hard to get back,” Jelen said. “[I’m] excited for round two [of state].”

Jelen also said that the Lakers had taken some lessons from their May 16 loss to the Lightning, a South Suburban Conference rival.

The Lightning, who entered Thursday’s game ranked No. 1 in the state coaches’ poll, relied heavily on a group of battle-tested players during the 2017 season.

“Our seniors have done a tremendous job,” Eastview coach Tim Roche said. “It’s tough to go undefeated for a whole year, and unfortunately our one loss came now.”

Sophomore midfielder Luke Bloedow scored with 3:04 remaining in the fourth quarter to lift Prior Lake to a 6-5 victory over top-seeded Eastview (15-1) in the Section 6 finals on Thursday night at Burnsville High School. 

The game-winner was Bloedow’s second of the game, as he tallied his first with 6:21 remaining to tie the score at 5-5 and erase a 5-3 deficit for the No. 2 seed Lakers (11-3). Senior attacker Carter Collins also added two goals in the win. 

Senior attacker Noah Joseph led the Lightning, ranked No. 1 in the state coaches’ poll, with a pair of goals and an assist.

With the win, the 2016 state champion and eighth-ranked Lakers will head to their second consecutive state tournament without being the top seed in their section.   

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