Photo Gallery: Eden Prairie vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's
The loss of three All-Americans from any roster could lead many to foresee some regression in results. Those notions don’t apply to Eden Prairie.
Under the direction of the godmothers of Minnesota girls’ lacrosse in Judy Baxter and Beth Patterson, the Eagles install athletes annually to a system that’s been foolproof in recent years. Eden Prairie has won three consecutive state titles and hasn’t lost to Minnesotan competition since 2014.
Basketball standouts Brooke Lewis and Abby Johnson led the Eagles in their season opener on Friday. Lewis scored seven goals and Johnson tallied four, dispatching Benilde-St. Margaret’s 20-1 Tuesday night at Eden Prairie High School.
Following last weekend’s blizzard, the game was moved to the dome adjacent to the high school. Inside the tight confines of the dome, Tuesday’s game served more as a meet and greet than a battle of burgeoning foes.
Red Knights coach Ana Bowlsby played for Eden Prairie and won a state championship in 2002. Taking over the Benilde-St. Margaret’s (0-1) program in 2013, Bowlsby knows her former coaches’ influence on the game.
“Her coaching tree is extensive,” Bowlsby said of Baxter. “She’s fully committed to growing the game.”
The pedigree of former Eden Prairie players currently head coaching includes Bowlsby, first-year Breck coach Hannah Riggs, Edina coach Makenna Borg and Chaska’s Lauren (DeZellar) Koloski. Within these programs at the assistant ranks are even more Eagle alums that have helped the sport flourish throughout the state.
Baxter and Patterson prefer an open approach to running their program. Specialization has pushed many kids to play fall and winter sports in the offseason and the talent pool of Eden Prairie is no exception.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” Baxter said. “The kids are very athletic but this weekend we’ll be missing girls off playing in other tournaments. We’re really flexible and put the girls first. We want them to participate the sports they love and are pursuing at the college level and still play lacrosse.”
Among the missing players this weekend will be Alexa Dobchuck, who played goalie for the Eagles’ hockey team and will compete in the CCM National Invitational Tournament.
Lewis has yet to commit to playing collegiately and has potential to play either basketball or lacrosse at the next level.
Lacrosse has largely drawn soccer and hockey players in the past, but it has recently drawn basketball players and even a dancer to this year’s team.
Despite girls on the team remaining highly involved in other activities, Ellie Henry — Eden Prairie’s All-American defender — said girls on the team get together to lift three days a week year-round, even after basketball or soccer practice.
“Our work ethic shows in the spring shows no matter what sport,” Henry said. “We work together, we hang out together — we just enjoy being together and I think that shows on the field.”
When Baxter was asked about the constant flow of former players returning to coach, she took little time to marvel and instead focused her attention on increasing the number of officials to support the growth of the game.
“What we need some of them to do is start reffing. That’s the next step,” she said.