Wayzata upset Eden Prairie after losing twice to Eagles in regular season

Brayden Nelson and Dalton Seesz shared the starring role with huge second-half plays in Wayzata's 6-5 upset of No. 2 seed Eden Prairie in the boys' lacrosse state tournament at Chanhassen High School.

Each scored a tying goal in the quarterfinal game Tuesday, then combined for the game-winner as the Trojans overcame two regular-season losses to their Lake Conference rivals.

"They are a solid all-around team, but we came to play and we got them," said Seesz, a junior midfielder.

Wayzata (11-5) held a 3-0 lead in the second quarter Tuesday at Chanhassen High School. Eden Prairie cut it to 3-1 by halftime on its first shot on goal.

The Eagles (15-2) started the second half with three unanswered goals for a 4-3 lead. Then Seesz scored and the game was knotted 4-4 after three quarters.

Nelson buried a turnover near the Eden Prairie goal for a 5-4 lead. Then 59 seconds later, Caden Frey scored for the Eagles.

"Whenever we play Wayzata it seems like it's a one-goal game," the Eagles' Nick Leivermann said.

Seesz struck for his third goal of the game, this one on a feed from Nelson, with 3:10 left.

"That was huge, it really brought our team's confidence up at a time when we needed it," Seesz said.

Mahtomedi 13, Prior Lake 12: Navy blue and gold school colors. A game earlier this season decided by one goal. Not much separates Mahtomedi and Prior Lake, including their back-and-forth state tournament quarterfinal game.

Goals from Ryan Pilla and Ben Putney in the game's the final minute allowed the No. 4 seed Zephyrs (16-1) to survive defending state champion and No. 5 seed Lakers (13-4).

"We were comfortable, but it was definitely crazy," Pilla said. "It was just them, us, them, us."

Pilla, a sophomore midfielder, scored with 53.9 seconds left.

"Mahtomedi just made a few more plays than we did," Prior Lake coach Chris Fleck said.

On the winning goal, Putney, a junior, fired with about 20 seconds to play. The timing surprised Pilla. But not the result.

"I think our coaches wanted us to hold onto it a little bit more but I know Putney and that is exactly what he's good at," Pilla said. "Mr. Clutch."

Benilde-St. Margaret's 17, Anoka 4: The Red Knights' season-long mantra "Restoring the Order" is about putting the program back into state championship contention.

The Red Knights, champions in 2010 and 2011, enjoyed a fast start to their first state tournament appearance since those title years.

Goals from Quinn Ehlen and Brian Arnold less than two minutes into the game set the Red Knights in motion.

"We definitely wanted to have a quick start on these guys considering that they are a nice, fast-paced team," said Brian Arnold, senior midfielder for No. 3 seed Benilde-St. Margaret's (15-2).

The early deficit negatively affected Anoka (15-2).

"On a good day we can play right there with them but getting down early does a lot to the heads of players," Anoka coach Brad Sundem said.

"We got in a hole and we were trying to do things we haven't done all season to get out of it."

Seven different Red Knights scored, led by Ehlen and Arnold who each tallied four goals.

Eagan 19, Lakeville North 8: The Wildcats' 15th goal showcased the difference in top-seeded Eagan and Lakeville North.

A streaking Brandon Wuertz buzzed the Panthers' net and flipped the ball over his opposite shoulder for a dazzling goal.

"I've practiced it a lot and told myself all year that I'd do it," said Wuertz, a Mr. Lacrosse finalist who scored four goals.

Everything seemed to go the Wildcats' way.

Down 3-1 in the first quarter, Eagan (16-1) exploded for nine consecutive goals.

"We started off slow but that's kind of how we start sometimes," Wuertz said. "Then we just start cooking it up."

The little things, Wuertz said, such as more crisp cuts off the ball to create better passing lanes, made a huge difference.

Eagan previously defeated Lakeville North 12-8 in a regular-season finale. Coach Jeff Wright said his Panthers (9-8) "couldn't stop their transition [in the rematch].

"They are quick and that's a very good team."