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Skipper's Fisher won't be left out

By Loren Nelson, Editor, 05/31/11, 8:37AM CDT

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Senior scores six goals as Minnetonka tops Maple Grove in section semifinals


Minnetonka's Chase Fisher, right, works past Maple Grove defenseman Dillon Martin. Photo by Helen Nelson

Last year Minnetonka’s Chase Fisher was enjoying himself at a friend’s graduation party. He was bouncing and banging around inside an inflatable “jumpy” when he suffered a separated shoulder.

Fisher did not play in the Skippers’ Section 6 championship game loss to Wayzata a few days later.


Minnetonka senior Parker Weinstock, left, is hounded by Maple Grove defenseman Tori Jones. Photo by Helen Nelson

The previous year, a back injury suffered in practice forced Fisher out of Minnetonka’s section championship victory over Eden Prairie and subsequent two wins en route to the state championship.

This year, with the Skippers again having qualified for the Section 6 title game, you can be sure Fisher won’t be taking any unnecessary risks during the days leading up to the game. His most vigorous activity might just be rolling out of bed.

“I’ve never played in a section championship game,” Fisher said after scoring six goals in the Skippers’ 15-9 triumph over previously unbeaten Maple Grove. “I’m so excited for Eden Prairie.”

After splitting their two-game season series, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie will meet again at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth.

For a guy who pairs a linebacker’s build with a tap dancer’s feet, Fisher has suffered a surprising number of injuries. One of them, a broken wrist suffered when he was a sophomore, was a happy accident.

“That pretty much made me switch to lefty because that was the only hand I could shoot with for about five months,” said Fisher, a natural right hander who scored 31 goals and added 14 assists in 13 regular season games. “That’s pretty much why I love going to that side. I’ve always been comfortable from then on.”

Fisher scored on the game’s first shot, working from his scoring zone 25 or so feet in front of the Maple Grove goal. Typically, Fisher is forced to make a move around a defender before uncorking his bomb of a shot.

“He is pure one-on-one initiation,” Minnetonka coach Aaron Olivier said.  “I don’t know if he has had a really assisted goal this year, where someone has given it to him and he’s scored.

“I mean, really, all his points are self created out of a system with guys moving to spots.”


Minnetonka's Teddy O'Reilly lunges for the ball ahead of Maple Grove defenseman Ross Gunderson. Photo by Helen Nelson

A typical Minnetonka play set up for Fisher is, basically, a standing order for his teammates to get out of his way. Fisher is deadly when isolated against an opposing defender, which happened often in the early going against the Crimson.

“If anything, we might have underestimated their speed a little bit,” Maple Grove coach Gig Willson said. “They moved the ball incredibly well. That freed up Fisher to do what he needed to do. He’s got a great shot.”

Fisher, one of seven finalists for the Mr. Lacrosse award given annually to the state’s top senior, scored five of his goals while shooting left-handed. All of his goals came against Nate Johnson, a senior regarded as one of the state’s top goaltenders.

“Our biggest goal was to get in there and take the right shots early,” Fisher said. “We didn’t want to get him rolling. He doesn’t really have a weakness.

“We just picked the right shots today.”


Minnetonka's Chase Fisher, a Mr. Lacrosse finalist, scored six goals against Maple Grove in the Section 6 semifinals. Photo by Helen Nelson

Statistics, Summary

1. Chase Fisher, Minnetonka
The senior attackman scored three of the Skippers’ four first-quarter goals as they raced to a 4-1 lead. Fisher, who scored six goals in all, showcased a cannon shot that he most often takes left-handed even though he is a natural right-hander.

2. Parker Weinstock, Minnetonka
The senior midfielder was dominant on face-offs, played his usual standout defense and added two assists in a performance that highlighted his versatility and all-around ability.

3. Jon Dryke, Minnetonka
The big, strong junior defenseman spent much of the game tracking the movements of Maple Grove attackman and leading scorer David Corazalla, who had four goals in each of his previous two playoff games but managed just one against the Skippers.


Minnetonka's Parker Weinstock, left, had two assists against Maple Grove. Photo by Helen Nelson

Photo Gallery

Game Recap

Senior attackman Chase Fisher scored six goals, including two on his first two shots, to lead Minnetonka past previously unbeaten Maple Grove 15-9 on Tuesday, May 31, in the Section 6 semifinals at Minnetonka High School.

Minnetonka advances to play Lake Conference rival Eden Prairie at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth.

The playoff loss to No. 4-ranked Minnetonka was the fourth in as many years for No. 6 Maple Grove (15-1). The Crimson were one of just two unbeaten MSHSL boys teams, along with No. 1-ranked Benilde-St. Margaret’s, entering the matchup.

Fisher, who has committed to play at Delaware, scored four of his goals in the first half as Minnetonka raced to a 7-2 lead.

Minnetonka led by as much 13-4 in the third quarter.

Junior attackmen Stewart Utter and Chase Leinberger each scored three goals for the Skippers (12-3), who won the state title in 2009.

Jack Rice, Charlie Johnson and Max Murphy each scored twice for Maple Grove.

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Section 6 Playoffs

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Regular Season

Section 6 Playoffs

Regular Season

Section 6 Playoffs

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