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Girls' lacrosse: Blake holds off Minnehaha Academy despite seven goals from eighth-grader

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 06/12/18, 12:30PM CDT

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The Bears' Emma Burke scored four goals and had four assists in a 12-11 quarterfinal victory.


Shannon Ellis (19) scores her third goal of the game. Blake narrowly passes Minnehaha Academy with a 12-11 victory in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine

Blake forward Emma Burke wasn’t at all worried. Her coach, Sarah Fellows, wasn’t quite so sure.

The Bears saw a once-comfortable lead dwindle to a single goal with less than two minutes left, but the held on to defeat first-time entrant Minnehaha Academy 12-11 on Tuesday at Minnetonka High School. They advance to the semifinals for the 12th consecutive season.

Blake, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, had defeated Minnehaha Academy 23-10 during the regular season. The Redhawks were clearly improved since that meeting, leaning on young talent and a physical style to keep the game within reach.

Trailing 11-7, Minnehaha Academy scored four of the game’s last five goals. Eighth-grader Jaylen Rosga’s seventh tally of the game, with 1:54 left, cut the lead to one.

“I would have gotten worried if our middies were having trouble with the draw,” said Burke, who led Blake (14-4) with four goals and four assists. “But they have a lot of grit and hustle and intensity and they were able to get the ball when we needed to.”

Minnehaha Academy had one final possession after scoring, but an errant pass cost the Redhawks their final opportunity. Blake kept possession and ran out the clock.

“It’s a sense of relief but also a sense of accomplishment,” Fellows said. “Even though it’s not our prettiest game, that we can still come out on top speaks volumes about our girls.

Despite the outcome, Minnehaha Academy coach Hannah Lundstrom was positive in the game’s aftermath. Things are looking up for the Redhawks (13-3), who won just nine total games in the previous three seasons. 

“We have continued to improve all season long,” Lundstrom said. “As disappointing as this is, these girls are already talking next game. How are we going to move forward so we can succeed.''

First report

Blake survived a relentless effort from Minnehaha Academy and seven goals from Redhawks’ eighth-grade wunderkind Jaylen Rosga to advance to the semifinals with a 12-11 victory.

The No. 3-seeded Bears got four goals and four assists from Emma Burke.

Minnehaha Academy trailed by as many as four goals in the second half but cut the lead to one on Rosga’s final goal with 1:54 left in the second half. The Redhawks had one final possession but couldn’t get off a shot.

Check back later for more on the game.


Eighth grader, Jay Rosga (center) fires off a shot to score her seventh goal of the game bringing Minnehaha Academy within one goal with just under two minutes remaining in the game. The Redhawks fell to the Bears 12-11. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngin

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