Girls lacrosse falls to Simley

Park’s outstanding 2023 girls lacrosse season came to a sudden, shocking, end Tuesday as the top-seeded Wolfpack were upset 8-7 by fifth-seeded Simley.

In a Section 3 semifinal game played at Cottage Grove, the visiting Spartans (8-7) had just enough to knock off the 10-ranked Wolfpack. The game was tied at 4-all at the half. Simley then outscored Park 4-3 after intermission.

Park ends the season with a 13-2 record.

In the other section semifinal, third-seeded East Ridge surprisingly dominated second-seeded Cretin-Derham Hall, winning 17-7.

East Ridge then defeated Simley 9-8 Thursday to gain the 2023 state Class A girls lacrosse tournament berth.

Shelby Hansen and Madi Brickman each scored three goals for the Wolfpack in the contest. Josie Leonard added the other score for Park.

Goalie Aubree Laska stopped 4 of 12 shots in the game.

Park will return a host of talented players next season but loses one of its best ever in senior attacker Hansen. Hansen led the team with 64 goals, 14 assists and 78 points in 15 games this season, averaging 4.2 goals a game.

Back for the Wolfpack will be attackers/midfielders Madi Brinkman (47 goals, 5 assists), Josie Leonard (40 goals, 9 assists), Megan Husaby (10 goals, 5 assists), Kyra Stofer (7 goals, 4 assists), Ava Reckinger (6 goals, 2 assists), defenders Tori Henderson and Sam Miller and goalie Aubree Laska (15 games played, 13-2, .520 save percentage, nine goals blocked.

Rosemount wins girls softball crown

Top-ranked Rosemount wrapped up an undefeated season with a 6-1 win over Forest Lake in the state title game Friday to earn the 2023 state girls softball crown.

The Irish completed a perfect 26-0 season. The closest Rosemount came to losing a game was a 2-1 win over Park in a Section 3AAAA quarterfinal on May 30.

Rosemount breezed through the rest of the postseason, winning 10-5 over East Ridge, 10-0 over Hopkins, 10-0 over White Bear Lake in the semifinals and 6-1 in the championship.

Rosemount blanked White Bear Lake 10-0 and Forest Lake edged Maple Grove 3-2 to reach the finals of the MSHSL girls softball tournament.

In the state quarterfinals, Maple Grove nipped Farmington 2-1, Forest Lake got past Shakopee 6-5, Rosemount crushed Hopkins 10-0 and White Bear Lake blanked St. Michael-Albertville 7-0.