Preps: Athletes of the week

Cassutt has scored a lot of goals in his career. He set the state record for goals in a season as a sophomore in 2010 with 46.

The junior attacker admits, however, that he never has scored a bigger goal than the left-footed drive he nailed with 14.5 seconds remaining to lift South to a 3-2 victory over archrival Minneapolis Southwest on Saturday.

It was Cassutt's third goal of the game and his second game-winning goal of the week. He scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Tigers victory over Roosevelt earlier in the week.

"I had a big goal against Southwest last year," Cassutt said. "But considering the circumstances, this is probably my biggest."

Cassutt said that his big game was as much a result of the level of play of his teammates as it was his own skills.

"Goal-scoring has always been kind of my thing, but this year we've got, four, five, six guys who can score. It's not all on my shoulders," Cassutt said. "Because of that, Southwest didn't mark me like they did before, and I scored three on them."

The rematch is set for Saturday at Southwest. Cassutt expects the Lakers will change their tactics.

Duerr, a freshman, won Eden Prairie's Metro Invitational last week with a time of 15 minutes, 55.9 seconds, the fastest 5K time of his career. He is ranked No. 5 in Class 2A by the State Coaches Association. "It really is truly rare for a freshman to have this kind of success," Hawks coach Jesse Longly said.

The Raiders won all six matches last week, including the championship of the North Branch tournament. Koop, a junior outside hitter, was the driving force with 54 kills, 59 digs and a 94 percent serve receive.

The Trojans needed every one of the points Paulson, a junior, produced in a 93-93 tie with Minnetonka. She won the 50 freestyle (23.67 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (26.87), led off the 200 medley relay (26.57) and anchored the 400 free relay (51.43).

Playing No. 1 singles for the Elks, the junior has compiled a 12-1 record. Last week she went 6-0, including victories over top players Mary Liz Swanson of Blaine (6-2, 7-5) and Danielle Donahue of Eagan (6-4, 6-3).

The junior running back tied a school record by scoring five touchdowns in the Orioles' 54-0 rout of Coon Rapids. He rushed for 235 yard and four TDs -- including runs of 63 and 80 yards -- and had a TD and 91 yards receiving.