Weather forces state lacrosse schedule changes

Both championship games will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday

The Minnesota State High School League has changed the schedule for Saturday’s final day of the boys and girls lacrosse tournaments because of a forecast for possible thunderstorms.

Times for the two championship games – both involving teams from Lakeville – are being moved up, and the boys game will be relocated.

The girls championship game, originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Eden Prairie High School, now will be 2:30 p.m. at Eden Prairie. Undefeated Lakeville South (18-0) seeks its second state championship in three years when it plays Prior Lake (17-1) in an all-South Suburban Conference final. Prior Lake’s only loss was 10-3 to Lakeville South on April 23.

The boys championship game, which was scheduled for 6 p.m. at Eden Prairie, has been moved to 2:30 p.m. at Chaska High School. Lakeville North (14-4) will go for its second consecutive state title when it plays Benilde-St. Margaret’s (17-1). The teams met in a regular-season game May 2, which BSM won 9-8.

Saturday’s full schedule:

Boys (all games at Chaska High School)

10 a.m.: consolation final, Eagan vs. Minnetonka.

Noon: third place, Stillwater vs. Eden Prairie.

2:30 p.m.: championship, Lakeville North vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

Girls (all games at Eden Prairie High School)

10 a.m.: Elk River/Zimmerman vs. Minnetonka.

Noon: third place, Benilde-St. Margaret’s vs. Stillwater.

2:30 p.m.: Lakeville South vs. Prior Lake.

Semifinals

Lakeville North never trailed in its 17-5 boys semifinal victory over Stillwater on Thursday at Chaska.

Junior attackman Carson Piscitiello scored three goals in the first quarter as the Panthers roared to a 5-1 lead over No. 2-seeded Stillwater (15-3). North led 10-1 at halftime and rolled to its ninth consecutive victory.

Blake Piscitiello had five goals and one assist for North. Carson Piscitiello had four goals and two assists, Quinn Power and Andy Slattery each had three goals and an assist, and Lane Johnson added two goals.

Stillwater scored the first goal of its girls semifinal game against Lakeville South on Thursday at Eden Prairie. That was the only time the Ponies led. Lakeville South quickly took over, led by five goals at the end of the first quarter, and went on to win 17-8.

Stillwater (13-4) pushed back and cut the South lead to 9-6 at halftime, but the Cougars outscored the Ponies 8-2 in the second half.

Senior midfielder Tori Tschida had four goals and four assists for Lakeville South, and junior attack Ella Mills scored four goals.

Saturday will be Lakeville South’s fourth time in the state girls lacrosse final, and the second time the Cougars have played Prior Lake with the championship on the line. Prior Lake defeated South 15-7 in the 2021 state final.