EDINA — Nine different player scored at least one goal as part of a balanced attack for Stillwater in a 20-10 nonconference girls lacrosse win over Edina on Thursday, May 23 at the Edina Community Center.
It was the second victory in a row for the Ponies to close out the regular season after falling to top-ranked Lakeville South on May 11. Stillwater was scheduled to face Chanhassen in a nonconference game on May 17, but that game was canceled due to storms and will not be rescheduled.
Stillwater (9-3) did receive the No. 1 seed and will host ninth-seeded Irondale (3-10), a 16-15 first-round winner over Totino-Grace, in the Section 4 quarterfinals on Friday, May 31. The other top seeds include No. 2 White Bear Lake, No. 3 Gentry Academy and No. 4 Hill-Murray. The semifinal games are scheduled for Monday, June 3 and the finals will take place on Wednesday, June 5.
The Ponies are seeking their 12th state tournament berth in past 13 seasons.
“We’re hoping to make a run here in the postseason,” Ponies coach Carly Fedoroswki said. “It’s go time.”
A strong start and a dominating second half allowed Stillwater to upend the Hornets in the regular season finale.
Maycie Neubauer scored five goals to pace the Ponies, who also received three each from Mady Richert, Avery Irlbeck and Ava Mosley, who also joined Neubauer with a team-high three assists.
The Hornets (6-7) started out face-guarding and then switched to a zone, but Stillwater made the necessary changes to adapt each time.
“We had a game plan going in and I think the biggest thing our girls did well was make in-game adjustments,” Fedorowski said. “We did really well.”
Neubauer and Krueger combined for 10 of the center draws.
“Our draw circle players dominated as well,” Fedoroswki said. “When that ball hits the ground Myah is giving it her all. It was a really good overall game.”
Lydia Glass also contributed two goals and two assists for Stillwater.
“Mady is a key factor to our attack, but I think every game we’re getting 10 different goal scorers,” Fedoroswki said. “Not a lot of players on our team have a lot of stats, but it’s more balanced and we’ve got depth and players making plays when we need to and their name is called.”
Edina was able to keep it close at halftime, trailing 11-7, but the Ponies took control in the second half to pull away.
“We found our game and continued to play our game and dominated that second half,” Fedoroswki said.
Stillwater defeated the Hornets 12-11 in four overtimes during the regular season a year ago, but Edina came back to defeat the Ponies 10-7 in the state semifinals.
“They’ve always been a tough, competitive game and we love playing them,” Fedoroswki said. “They did graduate a couple of players, but they’re a younger team and have some good athletes out there so we knew we had to bring our A game.”
It was good preparation for the Ponies as they focus on what they hope will be a deep postseason run.
“I’d say the x-factor is going to be those draw controls,” Fedoroswki said. “Any game is won between those 30s and in the games we have not played as well or lost or were closer, we’re not controlling that draw control. It all starts with that and who wants it. Also for our girls is just having fun. They all know they play better when they have fun and play together more.
“I think we all have talked about how this is now a new season and it’s a win-or-go-home mentality. We’ve dealt with some losses we’d like to have back, but we’ve competed with some of the best teams. We’re going to just keep taking it one game at a time and continue to prepare for each game.”
Stillwater 20
Edina 10
Goals — St, Maycie Neubauer 5, Madylyn Richert 3, Avery Irlbeck 3, Ava Mosley 3, Lydia Glass 2, Myah Krueger, Cassidy Keykal, Indira Capelle and Rayna Malmberg; Ed, Josie Moe 3, Kaylee Idrogo-Lam 2, Suri Austin 2, Mia Maxwell 2 and Lyric Busby.
Assists — St, Mosley 3, Neubauer 3, Glass 2, Richert 2, Malmberg, Irlbeck; Ed, Maxwell 3, Idrogo-Lam and J. Moe.
Saves — St, Rio Atkinson 3; Ed, Libby Moe 7 and Emilie Zung 6.
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