Prior Lake forward Kaija Ornes just completed her final season as a member of the Laker girls' soccer team. She was one of the five finalists for Ms. Soccer.
"Kaija is an all-around great player," Lakers coach David Graham said. "She is a tireless worker and a great leader on and off the field."
Ornes, who was the team's MVP in her junior season, concluded her career with 26 goals and 27 assists in the highly competitive South Suburban Conference. She had four goals and 11 assists this season.
"Her stats this year were a bit lower than previous seasons, but that is due to the fact that teams focused on her defensively," Graham said. "They would double-team her, put their most physical player on her, and try to limit her impact on the field. Despite this, she was still a factor in most games this season due to her ability to set up scoring opportunities and open up the field of play for other players."
Ornes also has been an all-conference and first team all-state selection the past two years. She had 11 goals and 11 assists her junior season.
"She had a great career at Prior Lake and her presence on the field will definitely be missed next season," Graham said. "She will certainly go down as one of the top players to come out of Prior Lake High School."
The past three seasons, the Lakers posted a 41-11-4 record with Ornes in the lineup. She will continue her soccer career at Colorado State University.
Here is a closer look at Ornes, who is also a member of the Nordic ski team in the winter:
