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Girls lacrosse: Here comes playoff-ready Blaze after upset

By Tom Schardin, 05/20/11, 8:42AM CDT

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 Here comes the Burnsville girls lacrosse team - peaking just in time of the playoffs.

 

The Blaze scored its biggest win to date May 19 under first-year coach Sarah Windhorst, knocking off No. 4-ranked Lakeville North 10-9 in a South Suburban Conference game.

 

"It was a great way to end the regular season, especially for the seniors," said Windhorst. "This win will give the team great momentum and confidence heading into section play." 

 

After a 1-4 start, the Blaze will take a 7-6 record into the Section 3 tournament, which starts Monday, May 23.Burnsville earned the fifth-seed and will face 12th-seeded Prior Lake in the first round at home at 7 p.m.

 

The Blaze beat the Lakers 9-5 during the conference season.

 

Third-ranked Bloomington Kennedy (13-0) earned the No. 1 seed in the section and a first-round bye.

 

Lakeville North (7-5) still got the No. 2 seed, despite losing 10-9 to the Blaze. The Panthers face 15th-seeded Rochester Century (2-11) in the opening round.

 

Other first-round games are: third-seeded Apple Valley (10-3) versus 14th-seeded Rochester Mayo (2-10), fourth-seeded Jefferson (10-2) versus 13th-seeded Farmington (1-10), sixth-seeded Rochester John Marshall/Lourdes (7-3) versus 11th-seeded Eastview (5-7), seventh-seeded Eagan-Rosemount (5-6) versus 10th-seeded Park and eighth-seeded Lakeville South (5-6) versus ninth-seeded Owatonna (8-4).

 

Quarterfinal play is May 25, followed by the semifinals May 31 and the title game June 2. The higher seed plays at home.

 

In the win over Lakeville North, senior Megan Killmer tied the game with a goal with just over two minutes to play. Ninth-grader Kallie LaValle got the assist on a "phenomenal" lead pass sending Killmer towards the net.

Senior Katie Vinje scored the game-winner with 1:19 to play.

 

After Vinje's goal, Lakeville North won the draw and possessed the ball deep in the Blaze's end. But ninth-grader Sam Vikstrom made a stick check, knocking the ball free and helping her team gain possession.

 

"We then possessed the ball for the last 45 seconds," said Windhorst. "The way the girls were able to stay calm in such an intense and emotional situation is why they were able to come back and defeat a great Lakeville North team. I am very proud of them."