Boys’ lacrosse team continues outstanding season

The “Red Knightmare” holds themselves to a high standard as they advance into the post season.

The BSM boy’s lacrosse team, or more affectionately known as the “Red Knightmare”, holds the second best record in the section 6A boy’s lacrosse section. The Red Knights have a winning record of 13 wins and only two losses with the most recent win coming over Breck on Thursday May 29.

In the North Suburban Conference alone, the Red Knights are 3-0. Their most decisive win coming over Robbinsdale Cooper with a final score of 17-0, 11 goals coming in the first half, senior captain Josh Werkmeister scored 5 goals in the first quarter.

Perhaps the most exciting game was the 4-3 win over White Bear Lake with the winning goal coming from Werkmeister with about two minutes left in the game. After winning their final two regular season games––one against Irondale, which they won 17-0 and one against Edina, which they won 13-10––the Red Knights have begun post-season preparations. “We came out slow against Edina, but we rallied in the second half and took the lead,” said junior midfielder Matt Arnason.

This has been an outstanding season for the Red Knights and expectations are high for the post season.“When you play for BSM you are expected to compete for state every year, especially since we have won three of the last eight state championships,” said coach Mike Hickey, “we have got to win our section.”

Though injury has plagued the Red Knights, the team has excelled at playing without key players such as junior midfielder Michael Naughtin, junior midfielder Nate Barry, senior captain Josh Werkmeister, junior forward Tommy Luedke, and senior Matt Mogensen, who was sidelined for the whole season due to a torn ACL. “Unfortunately we were hit with a lot of injuries, causing the younger, more inexperienced players to step up and fill big shoes,” said Hickey, “they have risen to the challenge very well and have added a lot of depth to the team.”

With the dissolving of the North Suburban Conference on June 30th 2014, the Red Knights will be playing in the Metro West Conference next year with opponents such as Bloomington Kennedy, Bloomington Jefferson, Chanhassen, Chaska, St. Louis Park, and Cooper, many of which BSM has become accustomed to playing. “We are excited to move into a new conference. We will face new opponents but also teams we have faced in the past and are looking forward to more competition,” said Arnason.