2026 Season Preview: Section 5
BOYS
There are sections that feel wide open. And then there’s Section 5 — where for nearly a decade, the road to state has run through one program.
Last year it was the usual suspects at the top: Wayzata (runner-up), Benilde-St. Margaret’s (champion), Rogers, Maple Grove, Breck, Robbinsdale, Hopkins/Park, Blake, and Osseo/Park Center.
But the story wasn’t who made it. It was who survived it.
And once again, it was Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Eight straight state tournament appearances. Three state titles. Three runner-up finishes. One third place. That’s not a run — that’s a regime.
The Red Knights have owned Section 5. The question is whether 2026 is the year the gap truly closes.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s
The Red Knights took some significant graduation hits. And, are navigating a coaching change on the defensive side of the ball.
Gone are impact names like Dylan Popehn (Wagner), Jack Anderson, Griffin Elliot and defensive anchors Johnson-Nixon brothers (Hampton) and captain Nick Coppo. That’s real production and leadership out the door.
But this isn’t a teardown.
Josh Ims (59%, 7.24 GAA, Bellarmine commit) returns in goal. Brady Marcus (Le Moyne commit) holds down the LSM spot. Tyler Kirschner anchors the close defense. And if the rumors are true, 56% 2027 faceoff man Brandon Weiner has transferred in — notably from Wayzata.
Offensively, the cupboard isn’t bare as a handful of their top scorers return.
Holton Vanderlinde (46 pts)
David Langevin (35 pts)
Leo Gagnon (21 pts)
The Red Knights will feel the loss of depth on defense and some key scorers — no way around it. But they still return strength at goalie, LSM, and some key offensive pieces. It’s hard to count out a team that has won the section 8 straight years.
Wayzata
If Benilde has ruled the section, Wayzata has been the closest challenger as of late.
Last year felt like the window. Loaded roster. Experience. Momentum. And yet, somehow, BSM found a way again.
This year? Completely different identity.
Wayzata loses its top four scorers — Cullen Britz (71 pts, UMass Lowell), Bennett Brown (51 pts, Rockhurst), Will Malecha, and Evan Weatherford. That’s firepower.
But here’s the twist: they may have the best defense in the state.
The Trojans return their entire starting group of poles - 4 of them committed to college lax:
Jack Adams
Odin Schon (Rockhurst)
Ben Weekly (St. John’s - NY)
Jack Billingsley (Marist)
Aiden Johnson (Indianpolis)
And behind them? Goalie Brendan Lavender (57%, 6.51 GAA).
Offensively, they still bring back their #3–#5 scorers:
Ryder Alstead (42 pts)
Thor Soukup (33 pts)
Cameron Johnson (29 pts)
However, They allegedly lost their FOGO — who transferred to BSM.
If you can hit double digits against Wayzata, you’ve got a chance. If not? Good luck. This team will grind games into defensive trench warfare. And if their secondary scorers elevate, they could finally flip the script.
Rogers
There’s real growth happening in Rogers — their hockey team was ranked #1 at one point this season, seems to be a growing community. There are some amazing facilities up there. They've been improving and should only be getting better.
They lost a couple key guys from last year:
Adem Leshovsky (71% FOGO), starting goalie Blake Evers along with multiple starting poles are gone. That’s your faceoff dominance and your back-line stability — in one class.
Still, here’s the part that makes Rogers dangerous:
They return their top SIX scorers.
249 combined points.
Breck Cassidy (61 pts, Queens D1)
Luke Burmis (54 pts)
Nolan Siharaj (54 pts)
Max Bruers (30 pts)
Brady Klatt (30 pts)
Gavin Hough (20 pts)
Rogers is going to score. Period.
But how much of that production was fueled by 71% possession at the X? And can they get enough stops now that the defensive spine is gone? I guess we will see.
They might be the most entertaining team in the section — and the most volatile.
Maple Grove
It’s wild that Maple grove finished 5–10 last year.
There was talent. It just never clicked. Coaching turnover didn’t help — three staffs in three seasons. But Joe Bear returns to steady the ship.
The Crimson lost Ricky Peterson (51 pts) and some defensive starters, but here’s why they’re intriguing:
Jack Olson (58 pts, Armstrong transfer – Rockhurst commit)
Grant Jensen (45 pts, Lewis commit)
Eli Varian (24 pts, 2028)
John Thompson (13 pts)
Plus a wave of 2027–2028 contributors who already saw varsity minutes.
On defense:
Brady Bodnar
Charlie Parker
Chase Kudla (2028 FOGO, 53%)
They also have two goalies with varsity experience.
This team has some scoring. They have faceoffs. They have youth that already played real minutes. It feels like Maple Grove might be a year away from a serious run — but if it clicks early, they could crack the top tier.
Breck
Breck School went 6–7 last year with what felt like a young team
Now? They return their top five scorers:
Henry Kurtzman (42 pts)
Ryan Adey (39 pts)
Wyatt Carlson (24 pts)
Wesley Robbins (24 pts)
Aaron Weiss (17 pts)
Goalie Asher Corndorf (56%, 8.50 GAA) returns. So does FOGO Nick Downing.
Depth will always be the question when matching up with the big public-school rosters. But Breck beats the teams they should. They’ll likely contend for their conference and could make some sectional noise if matchups break their way.
The Wild Cards
Robbinsdale Armstrong lost its best player and its coach to Maple Grove — but Brady Northrup is a name to know.
Hopkins/Park appears to have a solid leadership group of seniors ready to make a name for themselves.
For years, Section 5 has felt top-heavy — and tilted toward one throne.
Benilde still sits there.
But Wayzata’s defense might be elite. Rogers might score 15 on anyone. Maple Grove might be building something sustainable. Breck returning the lax program to the glory days?
The Red Knights are no longer towering above the section in quite the same way.
But, They’re still the standard.
For the first time in a while, Section 5 doesn’t feel predetermined.
And that alone makes this spring very, very interesting.
GIRLS
Section 5 on the girls side doesn’t have a decade-long dynasty storyline hanging over it — but it does have something just as compelling this year:
Turnover at the top.
Youth everywhere.
And one program that looks primed to seize control.
Wayzata
Wayzata went 12–3 last season and bowed out to BSM in the section semifinals. On paper, it felt like a breakthrough year.
Gone are the top two scorers:
Evie Marks (48g/15a/63 pts – Swarthmore College)
Ainsley Owens (42g/13a/55 pts – Eastern Michigan)
That’s 118 points walking out the door.
But here’s the catch — this roster was young.
Key returners:
Addy Vaughn (25/14/39), 2027
Jayden Miller (15/14/29, Youngstown State commit), 2027
McLean Roeder (21/7/28), 2028
Goalie Ainsley Weiner (7.22 GAA, 44.3%), 2027
Wayzata only graduated three players and has just two 2026s from last year’s roster. That tells you everything: they may have been a year early.
Yes, they relied heavily on Marks and Owens. But the youngsters already produced — and they’re earning offseason buzz. There’s opportunity here. Real opportunity.
The question: Can this young core accelerate fast enough to keep up with the big hitters in Section 5 right now?
If not this spring, the next two feel very promising.
Maple Grove
It’s hard to ignore what Maple Grove built last year.
15–4. State Quarterfinal appearance. Consolation champions after knocking off ERZ and Orono.
And now? They look loaded.
Yes, they lose serious production:
Sosi Van Wyk (44/47/91, 56 DC)
Hadley Kudla (35/16/51, 92 DC)
Jayde Issacson (12/23/35)
But the core returning is strong — and experienced.
Ryley Dunn (79/36/115, Austin Peay commit)
Lilly Iverson (32/19/51, Wheeling commit)
Anna Bauerly (26 GB / 30 FT, Northern Michigan commit)
Goalie Kiersten Iverson (7.05 GAA, 53.1%), 2028
Maple Grove brings back seven 2026s — a veteran group in high school lacrosse terms. That senior leadership is one of the biggest reasons they’re the early pick to win the section.
And here’s something bigger: Maple Grove is becoming one of those programs. Like Stillwater. Like Rosemount. Like Prior Lake. Deep youth participation feeding high school success.
They’ve built a pipeline.
They also move full-time into the Lake Conference, which means we finally get a regular season clash with Wayzata. That’s must-see.
The leaders are seniors. The goalie is young. The depth is proven.
Champlin Park
Champlin Park went 12–3 last year and ran into Maple Grove in the semis, losing 10–3.
But they took heavy graduation losses — nine seniors and a transfer.
Key departures include:
Alayna Roehl (43/7/50 – Concordia St. Paul)
Goalie Paige Hagenbart (Temple commit, transferred to IMG)
Losing Paige hurts. That’s not a knock on who’s next — but she impressed in person and gave them stability in big moments.
Still, this team returns serious firepower:
Reese Hagenbart (74/7/81, Akron commit)
Miley Jiracek (29/48/77, Rockhurst commit)
Anna Pitzen (9/10/19), 2028
Reese was knocking on the door of “stud of the section” status last year. Jiracek is one of the ultimate facilitators — but she may need to tilt more toward scorer now.
The reality: they return elite offensive talent, but they’re replacing a 50-point scorer and likely starting a 2028 or 2029 goalie.
That’s a lot to balance.
Can they keep up with Maple Grove’s depth? That’s the million-dollar question.
Benilde-St. Magaret’s
It’s a fresh chapter at BSM
The Red Knights went 10–6 and lost to Maple Grove 10–6 in the section final. Now they enter a new era under head coach Sydney Soto.
Major losses:
Charlize Vang (66/11/77 – Lindenwood)
Baily Gray (67 DC, 20 GB, 19 FT)
Longtime head coach Ana Bowlsby
That’s production. That’s draw control dominance. That’s leadership.
But the stat lovers should be excited.
Returning:
Jun Vang (20/34/54, Army commit)
Katie Kroft (29/7/36)
Hannah Larson (17/4/21)
Goalie Emelin Downey (7.69 GAA, 44.8%), 2028
They return their 2nd–6th scorers. That matters.
Defense may be the question mark, but there’s buzz around Savana Eison (William & Mary commit) bringing speed and athleticism to help fill the Gray void.
BSM won’t look the same.
But writing them off? That’s usually a mistake.
The Rest of the Section
Blake School: 6–8 last year, lost to BSM in the section quarterfinals. Roster clarity TBD.
Breck School: 6–8. Return 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th scorers — offense just needs a jump overall.
Hopkins High School: 7–8. Lost only their 3rd and 4th scorers; goalie returns. Sneaky continuity.
Osseo Senior High School / Park Center: Graduated eight 2025s but age balance remains solid.
Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper: 2–12, lost seven seniors but return Queens commit Katie Palony.
Rogers: 7–7, fell to Champlin Park in the QF. Details murky but competitive.
St. Louis Park High School: Graduated 11, including top two scorers and goalie — but 10 players in the 2027 class signal a long-term build.
So Who Owns Section 5?
Maple Grove looks like the favorite — senior-led, proven, and built for a run.
Champlin Park has star power.
BSM has pedigree.
Wayzata has youth ready to explode.
This isn’t a one-team section.
It’s layered. It’s shifting. And it might come down to which program’s young players grow up the fastest.
If that happens, Section 5 could get very interesting.