OAK PARK HEIGHTS — Members of the Stillwater girls lacrosse team enjoyed themselves during an untimely weather delay, but the real celebration started after time expired in their hard-fought 6-5 victory over Gentry Academy in the Section 4 championship game on Wednesday, June 5 at Stillwater Area High School.
The third-seeded Stars (13-2), who defeated White Bear Lake 18-5 in the semifinals, climbed to within a goal after trailing 6-2 second-half, but Stillwater was strong down the stretch to preserve the victory and earn the program its 12th state appearance in 13 seasons.
“I knew it was going to be close,“ Stillwater coach Carly Fedorowski said. “We knew it was going to take all 48 minutes.”
The Ponies were in a good spot with the lead when lightning forced play to be suspended for an hour or so early in the second half. The players were in good spirits and that carried over into the unplanned intermission.
“They kind of had a little concert and were singing and cheering, so it kept the energy up,” Fedorowski said. “They had some fun, but then we dialed it back in at the end and got that focus back and made sure that they knew there was still a lot left.”
But the top-seeded Ponies (12-3) had trouble finding the net goaltender Ava Davis was sharp for the Gentry, finishing with 13 saves.
“The lightning delay kind of messed us up a little bit, but I knew it was gonna be a tight game,” Fedorowski said. “They’re a very good team and we had to fight until the very last second.
“It definitely felt more chaotic after (the delay) and it was more intense and we weren’t as calm as we were in the first half. I think that played a role into it. We needed each other to be calm and not play a different game than we’re used to.”
The Stars trailed 6-4 entering the fourth quarter and they scored with about three minutes remaining to pull within 6-5 after Ella Berg’s third goal of the game.
But Stillwater’s Indira Capelle won the ensuing center draw and the Ponies were able to run out the clock without yielding a scoring chance for Gentry.
“It was super important,” Fedorowski said of the center draw. “I put her out there and she’s been clutch for us all year. She went out there self drew and I knew she was gonna get it crossed over to the 30.
“I want to go for it because I’m aggressive, but it’s all about the strategy. We ended up killing like two-and-a-half minutes at the end and without a shot clock I guess you can do that.”
It was closer than the Ponies wanted, but they remained poised while Gentry was pressuring late. This was just the fourth game all season that Gentry has played that was decided by fewer than eight goals.
“We’ve been in a lot of close games,” Fedorowski said. “I think that kind of played to our advantage. We set the strength of our schedule very strong and I don’t think Gentry has been in very many close games this year. We practice all these situations so it’s just really making sure the girls are prepared and know what’s to come once we’re put in that situation.”
Maycie Neubauer paced the Ponies with three goals and Mady Richert added two goals. Lydia Glass supplied three assists.
But it was the defense that impressed Fedorowski against a team that was held to fewer than 10 goals for just the second time all season.
“Our defense played lights out,” the coach said. “We had a yellow card for two minutes and I don’t think they got a shot on that. I think our defense held them in that last five minutes.
“Jumping out and getting that hot start and that lead in the beginning that we were able to hold on to was clutch.”
This is the second year in a row Stillwater has defeated the Stars in the section finals. In 2022, the Ponies defeated Two Rivers/Gentry in the consolation semifinals of the state tournament before the Stars dropped the coop and were added to Section 4.
“Hats off to them,” Fedorowski said. “They’re a really good team and they’ve got very good seniors, but I’m just happy we did it for our seniors on the last time they will play at Stillwater.”
Fedorowski is also a Stillwater graduate who played in the state tournament each of her four years on the team. She is happy to return with this team in her first year as head coach.
“We’re pretty excited about it,” Fedorowski said. “Well enjoy it tonight but then get back to work. We still have a lot of stuff to tweak and improve on, but we’re pumped and we’re excited.”
The girls state quarterfinals will be conducted on Tuesday, June 11 at Chaska High School. The other rounds will be held on June 13 and June 15.
Gentry Academy 2 0 2 1 — 5
Stillwater 3 3 0 0 — 6
Goals — GA, Ella Berg 3, Zoey Anderson and Samantha Hohn; St, Maycie Neubauer 3, Mady Richert 2 and Rayna Malmberg.
Assists — GA, 0; St, Lydia Glass 3.
Saves — GA, Ava Davis 13; St, Rio Atkinson 5.
Stillwater 18, Mahtomedi 5
At Oak Park Heights, Mady Richert and Rayna Malmberg each tallied four goals to help propel the top-seeded Ponies to an 18-5 victory over Mahtomedi (9-6) in the Section 4 semifinals on Monday, June 3 at SAHS.
Maycie Neubauer added three goals and two assists for the Ponies, who received at least goal from nine different players. Lydia Glass led Stillwater with four assists.
Mahtomedi 5
Stillwater 18
Goals — St, Mady Richert 4, Rayna Malmberg 4, Maycie Neubauer 3, Ava Mosley 2, Myah Krueger, Crimson Keykal, Indira Capelle, Avery Irlbeck and Annalise Bispala.
Assists — St, Lydia Glass 4, Neubauer 2, Mosley, Capelle and Richert.
Saves — St, Rio Atkinson 4.
Stillwater 10, Irondale 0
At Oak Park Heights, the Ponies opened the postseason with a 10-0 section quarterfinal victory over Irondale on Friday, May 31 at SAHS. It was Stillwater’s second victory this season over the Knights (3-11), who defeated Totino-Grace/St. Anthony 16-15 in a first-round contest.
Mady Richert paced the Ponies with four goals.
Irondale 0
Stillwater 10
Goals — St, Mady Richert 4, Ava Mosley, Myah Krueger, Cassidy Keykal, Crimson Keykal, Jillian Kulzer and NA.
Assists — St, Mosley 2, Lydia Glass 2 and Maycie Neubauer.
Saves — St, Rio Atkinson NA.
Most Popular
Comments / 0