Coming into the 2014 season, the expectation level was quite low for the Lakeville North boys lacrosse team. 

And rightfully so.

With just two seniors returning, there was a high level of doubt as to what the Panthers would accomplish in 2014. Even the team itself had doubt coming in

“We didn’t expect a whole lot,” captain Calvin Hedberg said. 

Not even ranked in the preseason coach’s poll, the Panthers proved outsiders, as well as themselves, wrong.

Their season didn’t have the best ending with the 11-6 loss to Wayzata in the third place game at Chaska high school, but the Panthers fourth place finish was a big step in the right direction.

“We came together as a team and we accomplished more than I think we ever thought we could at the beginning of the season,” added Hedberg.  

With the loss to Wayzata, the Lakeville North Panthers finished their season with a 14-5 record, their best finish ever. But while the overall fourth place finish was big for North, the last game didn’t go as planned.

“Today was just unfortunately an off day for us,” North coach Wright said. “We didn’t capitalize the way we talked about. Unfortunately it was not our best performance.”

Despite the delayed game due to weather, Wayzata came out firing. 35 seconds into the game, Matt Johnson scored for the Trojans when he put the ball just to the right of North's Bryce Bouman. Then, Bouman's first save of the game was followed up by a Wayzata score off the rebound.

With a strong start from the Trojans and a discombobulate Panther offense in the first half, the Panthers were down 7-2 by the half.

“A lot of turnover’s and a lot of poor calls actually,” Coach Wright said were the issues. “(Wayzata) got a lot of shots that we couldn’t defend and that kind of put the dagger in it.”

In the second half, Lakeville North continued to struggle. The Panthers offense often failed to pass to open players, which resulted in turnovers. By the end of the third quarter, the score was 10-3.

Despite late game efforts by the offense, the deficit the Trojans created proved to be too large for North to overcome. Sophomore Calvin Dahl scored two goals within 47 seconds, but his contributions weren't enough for the Panthers to leave with the victory. 

The 11-6 loss brought the spring season to a close. But, there is no offseason for the boys lacrosse team. Wednesday, the Panthers begin their summer league, and despite the 2015 state tournament a year away, Coach Wright already has his sights set on a return.

“We got that first state tournament out of the way so hopefully we’ll be here next year,” Wright said.