White Bear Lake upsets Bloomington Jefferson for boys' lacrosse title

At the start of the season, White Bear Lake coach Brandon Husak asked his team one question, "What does it take to win a state ­tournament?"

He expected to hear one response, "I don't know, but I want to find out."

After the Bears handed Bloomington Jefferson its first defeat 12-8 on Saturday night in the high school boys' state championship game at Minnetonka High School, Husak had several players walk up to him and say, "Coach, we know. Coach, we know."

White Bear Lake (18-1) took a 1-0 lead on its first possession on a goal from Matt Swanson, who dodged at the cage from the right side. On the next possession, midfielder Connar Dehnert took a pass from attack Hunter Peters and ­buried it to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.

Jefferson (18-1) called timeout.

With Ethan Peterson rolling at the X, the Bears took a 3-0 lead on a goal from Shane Olsen, and then gained a fourth possession when Peterson won the next draw.

However, Jefferson goalkeeper Connor Norberg corralled a Bears shot, and the Jaguars took possession. Jaguars attack Ryan Graff spun and fired a shot that beat Bears goalkeeper Will Ramert to put Jefferson on the board. Justin Higgins beat Peterson at the X, and Graff scored again to cut the ­deficit to 3-2.

Peterson also scored for White Bear Lake, giving it a 7-2 lead on the first possession of the second quarter.

But just as quickly as Peterson won faceoffs in the first half, Jefferson's ­Justin Higgins took control at the end of the third quarter. The Jaguars scored four consecutive goals in the last two minutes to end the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 11-6.

But Bears defender Jack O'Rourke had a key pass interception and Ramert saved several shots as White Bear Lake held on for the victory.