Eastview back into boys' lacrosse finals

Champlin Park's boys' lacrosse team played nothing like a state tournament first-timer in Thursday's semifinal.

But it was not enough to upset Eastview, which finished the game with poise befitting a defending state champion.

The last of Tanner Hamill's team-best four goals was the first of three consecutive goals Eastview used to close out a 10-6 victory at Chanhassen High School.

The No. 2 seed Lightning (14-3) advance to face No. 1 seed and undefeated Eden Prairie at 7 p.m. Saturday at Chanhassen in a rematch of last season's title game.

"It's great to know we pushed ourselves to get back to this," Hamill said.

No. 3 seed Champlin Park (14-3) pushed the Lightning at every turn, leading 3-2 in the second quarter and getting goals from Luke Dalman and Cody Schmitt just 17 seconds apart in the fourth quarter to draw within one at 7-6.

"Champlin Park definitely played like a final-four team," Eastview coach Tim Roche said. "It took a lot of heart from our guys to regroup, get settled and score the next three goals."

Held to one goal, McNamara's scoring void was filled by the Lightning's supporting cast. Five players have 20 or more goals this season. Michael Stillings joined the club with the game's first goal.

"Mac is a great player but we're a really deep team and that keeps us going," Hamill said. "We have so many guys that can run to the net and bury the ball."

Eden Prairie sophomore attackman Sean Patterson entered the state semifinals with three goals all season.

He surpassed that total with four against White Bear Lake, squirting into open areas and finishing his chances with deft stick work.

Each of Patterson's first three goals kept the top-ranked Eagles at least two goals ahead of upset-minded White Bear Lake in a 17-8 victory.

The entire Eagles team did likewise in the second half.

Their lead cut to 7-6 by a White Bear Lake goal just 42 seconds into the third quarter, the Eagles pulled away with five consecutive goals.

"Our third quarter is usually our best quarter," Patterson said. "We settled in and ran our offense well."

The teams battled throughout the first half as a quick two-goal lead for Eden Prairie (17-0) became a tie game.

Later in the second quarter, a 4-3 advantage for White Bear Lake (15-2) became a 7-5 halftime deficit for the Bears.

Armitage finished with five goals, one ahead of Gahm.