Boys lacrosse: Stillwater turns back Mustangs in overtime

OAK PARK HEIGHTS — Able to avoid sharing the Suburban East Conference championship, the Stillwater boys lacrosse team outlasted Mounds View 10-9 in overtime to secure the league title outright on Wednesday, May 15 at Stillwater Area High School.

It was the 19th consecutive conference victory for the fourth-ranked Ponies (9-0 SEC, 11-1), who have now captured five SEC titles in the past six seasons. It has not been an easy road for Stillwater, which finished 3-0 in conference games that were decided by just a single goal.

In addition to their latest victory over Mounds View (4-5, 6-6), the Ponies also edged Woodbury 6-5 and East Ridge 11-10 in games earlier this season. The Raptors (8-1, 10-1), who are seventh in the state coaches rankings, finished two games out of a three-way tie for third place that included Cretin-Derham Hall (6-3, 6-4), White Bear Lake (6-3, 7-4) and Woodbury (6-3, 8-3).

Anderson Wagner and Grant Giese each finished with three goals to lead the Ponies, who opened up a 5-1 lead after the first quarter.

Mounds View closed to within 6-4 at halftime, but the Ponies were unable to hold a 9-7 lead down the stretch.

It was Anderson who delivered the game-winner while finishing off the hat trick in overtime.

Stillwater goaltender Casey Mork finished with 15 saves.

Mounds View 1 3 2 3 0 — 9

Stillwater 5 1 3 0 1 — 10

Goals — MV, Caden Ayshford 4, Liam Andrews 3, Andrei Burton and Brody Herr; St, Grant Giese 3, Anderson Wagner 3, Robert Appert, Brock Lynskey, Easton Abrams and NA.

Assists — MV, Trent Habisch 2, Ayshford and Burton; St, Appert and Jack Mellgren.

Saves — MV, Maddux Brooks 10; St, Casey Mork 15.

Stillwater 6, Woodbury 5

At Woodbury, playing from behind most of the night, the Ponies finished strong to pull out a hard-fought 6-5 conference victory over the Royals on Friday, May 10 at Woodbury High School.

Woodbury scored the first three goals of the game and also led 5-3 in the fourth quarter. Stillwater charged back and Anderson Wagner tied the game with his third goal of the game before Grant Giese, who finished with two tallies, provide the game-winner.

Brock Lynskey also chipped in with a goal for the Ponies.

Stillwater 0 1 2 3 — 6

Woodbury 2 1 1 1 — 5

Goals — St, Anderson Wagner 3, Grant Giese 2 and Brock Lynskey; Wo, Quinn Olson 2, Max Henry, Carter Nelson and Jacob Rome.

Assists — St, Giese; Wo, Henry 2.

Saves — St, Casey Mork 11; Wo, Evan Hermann 6.