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Eden Prairie soars to state tournament

By Michael Murakami, Lax Hub staff, 06/02/11, 11:00PM CDT

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Six Eagles score to earn hard-fought victory over Minnetonka

During the Section 6 championship game on Thursday, June 2, where a trip to the 2011 MSHSL Boys Lacrosse State Tournament was on the line, bragging rights were also on the table as Eden Prairie and Minnetonka had split the regular season series.

Minnetonka had proved victorious over Eden Prairie on Thursday, April 28, but the Eagles returned the favor on Tuesday, May 17.

Perhaps most importantly, both of those games were close, one-goal victories which set the stage for what would prove to be a hard-fought match-up in the playoffs.

This time, Eden Prairie would win the rubber match as the Eagles defeated the Skippers 9-7.

“Minnetonka is a great team and we’ve had a lot of battles over the years including this year so we knew it was going to be a close game,” Eden Prairie coach Ryan Ward said.

“We just wanted to win the little battles. Going in, we thought we had an edge on face-offs and we did tonight. We wanted to shoot the ball well -- their goalie (Minnetonka senior Andy Homan) is unorthodox but he’s very, very good and he finds a way to get it done.”

Even with seeing Minnetonka twice during the regular season, nothing could have been prepared Eden Prairie for the contributions the always dangerous Skippers’ starting attackmen (senior Chase Fisher and juniors Teddy O’Reilly and Jack Denton) would bring to the game.

Six out of Minnetonka’s seven goals came from Fisher, O’Reilly and Denton with each player scoring two goals each.

“All game plans going in can be thrown out the window shortly after the start of the game but we’re happy with the win,” Ward said.

Despite those goals, Ward acknowledged he was pleased with the way his defense played against one of the top attack lines in the state especially the match-up between Eden Prairie defenseman Curt Rau and O’Reilly.

“(Curt) Rau is the most underrated defenseman -- he’s always on our opponent’s best guy,” Ward said. “He’s a hockey player and he just picks up a lacrosse stick on March 28 when it’s season time and puts down the stick when we’re done, then he picks up a hockey stick again. So he’s a great player.”

Following a moderate yet short celebration with the Section 6 trophy, Eden Prairie returned to the sideline to pack up their gear and quickly exited the field to board the team bus -- quietly to not disturb Minnetonka's postgame huddle.

To the Eagles, the moment had passed.

“Our whole thing is one game at a time,” Ward said. “We were looking to get (to the State Tournament) and we did, we accomplished that goal. Now me and the coaching staff are already thinking about the next game and what we have to do to win the next game. I’ll let the guys enjoy this tonight but tomorrow at 4 p.m. we’re back to business.”

A mentality echoed by Ward’s players.

“We’re just going to practice really hard, keep our focus going and take it one game at a time,” Eden Prairie sophomore midfielder Jake Woodring said.

“We have to prepare for our first game (at the State Tournament),” Ward said. “But then in the back of our minds we’re aware that it’s a quick turnaround knowing that we’re probably going to play -- if things go according to plan -- Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

“That’s kind of what we penciled in at the start of the year, a match-up with them.”

Eden Prairie will face the champions of the Section 3 to be determined Friday, June 3, at 7 p.m. when Eagan plays Burnsville at Lakeville North High School.

From Nervousness to Nirvana

Eden Prairie midfielder Jake Woodring was all smiles following the Eagles' 9-7 victory over Minnetonka in the Section 6 championship game on Thursday, June 2, at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School.

His joy was well deserved as the sophomore had scored three goals in the close, hard-fought victory.

But Woodring’s elation got off to a slow start.

“To be honest I was really nervous (before the game) but we have our captains leading us,” Woodring said. “We’re a senior-heavy team and you just don’t want that last practice to happen.

“You want to keep the season going.”

That desired turned into determination which gradually grew into confidence -- a confidence that didn’t fade even when Minnetonka came out firing and jumped to a quick lead.

“I knew we could bounce back and get back on top,” Woodring said. “I trust all of our seniors and we have great teamwork.

“I came in with a great mental attitude, I was really focused and I just happened to have a lucky game.”

Regardless if luck played a factor, Woodring demonstrated just what kind of an offensive threat he is as he now has 40 points (33 goals, 7 assists) this season.

Though the sophomore midfielder may be overlooked by some as well as overshadowed by the likes of Matt and Mitch Hugdahl, Woodring hasn’t flown under the radar of the Eden Prairie coaching staff.

“I think depth is one of our strengths and on any given night we could have a player score a couple of goals,” Eden Prairie coach Ryan Ward said. “Our first midfield line is very strong -- Mitch (Hugdahl) is capable of three, (Woodring) is capable of three, Riley is capable of three.

“Jake (Woodring) was able to capitalize tonight.”

Thanks to Woodring, Eden Prairie is the Section 6 Champion and advances to the 2011 MSHSL Boys Lacrosse State Tournament.

“It’s unreal,” Woodring said. “Being so young and having the opportunity to do this with my teammates it’s just incredible.

“I'm a really lucky kid.”

Q and A with Minnetonka coach Aaron Olivier

Following the heart-breaking loss in the Section 6 championship game and a post-game huddle with his players, Minnetonka coach Aaron Olivier took some time to speak with the MN Lax Hub regarding the game, his team and his team’s future.

Question:  After this kind of a loss, what did you say to your team to comfort them?
Answer:  This game doesn’t define what type of season we had. We really wanted to emphasize that this team was as close to, if not closer than the team that won the state championship a couple years back. So it burns. We took a little time to reflect on the season and really to honor our seniors, not at the banquet but amongst the team for guys who absolutely know how hard these seniors have worked. We wanted to allow our seniors to have one last chance to give a team cheer and wrap up the season because it was a successful season. A lot of teams would like to be where were.

Q:  Obviously a familiar for in Eden Prairie, what was the game plan heading into this one?
A:  The game plan going into this was to win the little battles. Every game we have ever played with them was decided by one goal. One goal can be one shot which can be caused by one turnover which can be caused by one ground ball. We were really focusing on the little things, executing all of over the field, making sure that we didn’t have any mental mistakes and capitalize on opportunities. Offensively we did that when could get the ball, but we didn’t get the ball enough to be able to finish it.

Q:  Throughout the year, your attackmen were a constant offensive power. What was it like watching them this year?
A:  They’re pretty close-knit. They’re fun to watch and all three of them are so different. You have a big workhorse in Chase (Fisher), a lightning-quick guy in Teddy (O’Reilly) and polished finished in Jack (Denton) so they all really complimented each other well. They always showed up in big games when we needed them and tonight was no exception unfortunately we just couldn’t get the ball for them. When we could get it to them, they did wonderful things.

Q:  Though the season didn’t end how you wanted it to, there was still a lot of good things that happened for you and your team. What excited you about next year?
A:  We’re just focusing on this year right now, next year is too early. It’s really tough. I just want to make sure these seniors know how important they were to this program and that they left this program in a much better place than when they came in. The guys returning next year really have a tough act to follow in terms of character and play when you look at what these seniors did for our team. That’s what we’ll look forward to next year is that these guys have pretty large footsteps to fill.


The image from slideshow was taken and is owned by Jim Karsh.

The image is being used with permission and is not the property of the MN Lax Hub.


Michael Murakami

MN Lax Hub Staff


Statistics, Summary

1. Jake Woodring, Eden Prairie
The sophomore midfielder demonstrated just how big of an offensive threat he can be by scoring three crucial goals in the close game. Woodring was smart with the ball and dangerous in the offensive zone throughout the night.

2. Matt Hugdahl, Eden Prairie
Hugdahl notched two goals and added one assist to give the senior attackman a team-best 11 points (nine goals, two assists) in three games during the playoffs.

3. Chase Fisher, Minnetonka
Proving why he's a Mr. Lacrosse finalist, Fisher displayed excellent work ethic that was evidenced by the two goals and one assist he had.

Game Recap

Jake Woodring scored three goals and Matt Hugdahl had three points (two goals, one assist) as Eden Prairie defeated Minnetonka 9-7 in the Section 6 championship game at Robbinsdale Armstrong on Thursday, June 2.

Davis Snyder and Patrick McFadden each contributed one goal and one assist in the Eagles' winning effort.

Minnetonka's offense was led -- as it was led all season -- by its starting attackmen as senior Chase Fisher scored two goals and had one assist. Teddy O'Reilly and Jack Denton had two goals each.

Senior goaltender Andy Homan made six saves for the Skippers as Minnetonka ends the 2011 season with a 12-4 overall record.

With the victory, Eden Prairie advances to the 2011 MSHSL State Tournament and will face the champions of the Section 3 to be determined Friday, June 3, at 7 p.m. when Eagan plays Burnsville at Lakeville North High School.

The 2011 MSHSL Boys Lacrosse State Tournament will take place at Chanhassen High School, however exact dates and game times have not been set.

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