BSM Boys' Lacrosse Wins Back-to-Back State Championships

BSM boys’ lacrosse won their second consecutive and fifth all-time state championship title on Saturday, June 18 after beating Prior Lake 10-9 in an overtime thriller to finish a perfect 19-0 season. This was BSM’s fifth straight year competing in the state title game, with the last four being against Prior Lake. 

In an extremely tight championship game, the Red Knights would get off to a 3-0 lead before the Prior Lake Lakers added two goals with under two and a half minutes to go in the first quarter. The Red Knights scored three more goals during the half, with the Lakers tallying one, sending BSM into halftime with a 6-3 lead.

Prior Lake scored first to start the second half, but the Red Knights quickly answered to keep a 7-4 lead on the Lakers. BSM would stay on top through the end of the third quarter with an 8-6 lead. The fourth quarter would bring the first lead change of the game after Prior Lake scored three unanswered goals to go up 9-8 over the Red Knights. BSM was quick to get the equalizer, but Prior Lake wasn’t finished. The Lakers ran down and scored, but the goal was quickly waved off due to offsides. Regulation then expired and the two teams went to overtime knotted 9-9. 

In overtime, it would be senior midfielder Mitch Dokman in the open field with a bounce shot to give BSM their second state title in as many years. 

Senior attacker Cam Gelling, junior defender Caio Stephens, junior attacker Carsen Brandt, senior defender Sam Pikul, and senior goaltender Justin Dalum were named to the All-Tournament team. 

The Red Knights qualified for the state tournament after beating Maple Grove 9-3 at home on Wednesday, June 8, capturing the Section 5 championship. Home turf has fared well for BSM in recent years as they currently hold a 41-game home win streak dating back to 2017. 

In an identical state tournament bracket as last year, the Red Knights again met the Moorhead Spuds in quarterfinals, the Stillwater Ponies in semifinals, and the Prior Lake Lakers in the finals. 

In quarterfinals, BSM held the Spuds scoreless through the first quarter and would only allow two goals by the end of the first half, making for a lopsided 8-2 lead. Hot temperatures and Moorhead proved no match for BSM as the Red Knights continued to pull away from the Spuds, adding 11 more goals in the second half on their way to an eventual 19-4 win. 

The semifinal game presented a bigger battle for BSM as the Red Knights found themselves in a tight matchup with Stillwater. BSM trailed the Ponies 8-10 late in the third quarter, but the momentum would suddenly shift after a Stillwater penalty. The Red Knights were able to score on the man advantage and never looked back, tallying seven unanswered goals through the end of the game in a 15-10 win. 

Congratulations on a perfect season and another state title win, Red Knights!

Benilde-St. Margaret’s athletics program features more than 20 different sports for students in grades 7-12 to participate in during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. BSM also has more than 30 co-curricular activities throughout the school year for students in all grades.