2026 Season Preview: Section 7
BOYS
A year ago, nobody saw it coming.
After an 0-5 start, Blaine looked dead in the water—buried in a tough early schedule and searching for answers. Then something clicked. The Bengals ripped off 10 wins in their next 11 games and stormed their way to a Section 7 title in one of the more improbable runs in recent memory.
A few things to note before we break down the teams…
The North is Rising
One of the best developments in Minnesota lacrosse continues to be the growth of the game up north. Section 7 now features 11 teams, with five programs representing northern Minnesota. That matters.
It means more meaningful games. More depth. More athletes choosing lacrosse.
Which brings us back to the chaos that is Section 7.
Blaine
Last year’s run was magical. This year’s challenge? Sustaining it.
Blaine does lose key contributors like Robert Cruikshank, Noah Fish, Ethan Burnette, and faceoff specialist Russell Therres. That’s production you don’t just replace overnight.
But the cupboard is far from empty.
Steven Axelrod (65 points) and Weston Johnson (47) headline an offense that still has punch, while a deep defensive core—Brady Pierpont, Jaxon Wilson, Caz Pisca, Ashton Truchon, and Riley Quinn gives them some consistency on defense. Add in Jake Alfson at SSDM and the Bengals still look like there’s a solid core returning to defend the title.
They won’t sneak up on anyone this time. But they also won’t go away quietly.
Andover
Andover entered last postseason as the No. 1 seed—proof that the Huskies were doing plenty right. But their season ended at the hands of that same Blaine buzzsaw.
Now, things look very different.
Gone are their top three scorers (Weikel, Jensen, and Evans) along with their starting goalie and key defensive pieces. That’s going to be a challenge to replace
However, There are still pieces to like. Wyatt Carlson gives them some offensive continuity, while Dillon Larsen at the faceoff spot and Gage Roeder defensively provide a foundation.
But the biggest question looms in the cage. With no clear returning goalie, Andover’s margin for error shrinks considerably.
Historically, Andover has been able to lean on its broader athletic program to find contributors. Whether that pipeline continues to deliver could define their season.
Anoka
If there’s one team that consistently plays the role of disruptor, it’s Anoka.
Even last year, behind a monster 101-point season from Ethan Massman, the Tornadoes managed to stay just under the radar. But now, Massman, and a significant chunk of their production, is gone. They also are going through a coaching change.
That’s the bad news.
The good news? There’s still a competitive core here.
Libby (43 points), Roof, and Schmalz give them some offensive continuity, and goalie Nate Thompson (58%) returns between the pipes. Defensively, Tjosass and Buxton will need to anchor a unit that lost key long poles.
Anoka might not overwhelm teams, but they don’t need to. I feel like they will just continue to be the gritty, tough team they’ve always been.
Champlin Park
Champlin Park’s identity last season was simple: win the faceoff, control the game.
Jared Zabel did both at an elite level, winning 81% of his draws while adding 43 points. His graduation leaves a massive void; not just statistically, but stylistically.
They also lose key offensive pieces in Bosch and Korton, along with defensive starters Lee and Speltz.
Still, this isn’t a reset.
Jiracek (39 points) and Ondrachek (36) form a solid offensive duo, and returning goalie Kiffmeyer provides stability in the age. Add in contributors like Contons, Elie, and Verlo, and there’s enough here to stay competitive.
In a wide-open section, “competitive” might be all you need.
Duluth: The Dark Horse
If you’re looking for the team that could crash the party, start in Duluth.
The Wolfpack were a six seed last year—but that doesn’t tell the full story. Injuries, including a season-ending one to their starting goalie, derailed what could have been a deeper run.
Now? They’re healthy. And loaded.
Erickson, Kramer, Gillman, and Misuraco all return after posting strong offensive numbers, while goalie Pearson is back to stabilize the defense. Add in LSM Goldsworthy and a physical defensive group featuring Petrich, Signorelli, and Heffernan, and you have one of the most complete rosters in the section.
They lose some pieces—Kurth and faceoff specialist Beyer—but compared to others, Duluth brings back far more than it lost.
Don’t be surprised if the road to the section title runs through the north.
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With Centennial moving out to Section 4, a longtime power is no longer looming over the bracket. That alone opens doors. Blaine proved last year that anything is possible. Now, the rest of the section gets its shot to follow. There’s no heavy favorite. No dominant roster. Just a group of hungry teams, which is exactly what makes this section so compelling.
GIRLS
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Section 7 girls lacrosse—it rarely stays predictable for long.
Last spring, Chisago Lakes didn’t just win the section…they took it. A decisive 10-4 win over Centennial in the final stamped them as the class of the north before running into a buzzsaw in the state tournament.
Now, the question shifts from can they win it to something much harder:
Can they stay on top?
Chisago Lakes
On paper, this looks like a team to beat. And not just in Section 7. Chisago Lakes returns firepower—a lot of it.
Naomi Eaton (62 points), Camryn Hinsch (57), and Katelyn Anderson (47) headline a senior class that can score, distribute, and dominate draws. This wasn’t a one-lineup team either—they had 10 players hit double-digit goals last year, and six of them are back.
That’s depth. That’s balance. That’s dangerous.
Defensively, they bring back most of their core as well.
But for all the strengths, one question looms large:
Goalie.
Laura Carlson wasn’t just a starter—she was a constant. Since her early days splitting time as an eighth grader, she’s been the backbone of this defense. Now, for the first time in years, Chisago Lakes enters a season without that certainty in net.
It doesn’t mean they don’t have the answer.
It just means they have to prove it.
And in a section with improving offenses across the board, that question could define their ceiling.
Blaine
Blaine is…fascinating.
A 7-6 record last year doesn’t jump off the page. A quarterfinal loss to Duluth—by one goal—doesn’t scream contender.
But look closer.
Kiera Michael, Allison Sculthrop, and Hope Moore all return, forming a young, talented offensive core. Add in goalie Olive Heugel (58.6%) and suddenly there’s real structure on both ends.
Now add context: this is a 2027-heavy roster.
We’re talking Division I and Division II commits. High-level talent. And most of them are just now becoming upperclassmen.
With new head coach Margot Coomes stepping in, there’s a fresh voice and perspective guiding a group that already has the pieces. Last year’s early playoff exit? That should sting—and fuel them.
Don’t be surprised if Blaine jumps ahead of schedule.
Centennial
No team in this section might be harder to figure out than Centennial.
6-9 record. Section runner-up.
Those two things don’t usually go together—but they do here.
The Cougars battled a brutal schedule late in the season, taking on top-tier programs that tested them night after night. And when the playoffs hit? They were ready.
Now they return a roster loaded with seniors—12 players from the 2026 class. That kind of experience matters in May.
Makenzie Munger leads the offense, while goalie Delaney Linser (59.4%) gives them a steady presence in net—something coaches quietly build around.
Is there a headline star? Not really.
Is there a team that knows how to compete, has seen adversity, and brings back leadership across the field?
Absolutely.
And that combination tends to win playoff games.
Andover
It wasn’t a flashy 2025 for Andover. A 5-9 record. A one-goal playoff loss.
But dig deeper, and there’s something building.
Yes, they lose their starting goalie and a key scorer. That hurts.
But they also return the majority of their offensive production—and more importantly, they bring back numbers. Ten players from the 2026 class. Eight more from 2027. Thats a strong foundation of talent and depth.
Head coach Brad Geiss has pieces to work with, even if they’re not fully formed yet. If a goalie emerges and the offense takes a step forward, Andover could surprise people.
Grand Rapids/Greenway
Grand Rapids/Greenway took a step forward last year with nine wins and a playoff victory. Now comes the next phase: sustaining it.
They do lose top scorer Ryleigh Sherlock and another key contributor in Mercury Bischoff. That’s production that won’t be easy to replace, but the future is clearly in motion.
Breckin Marsh and Sophie Carlson headline the returning offense, while a very young roster—featuring large 2027 and 2028 classes—suggests this team is building something longer term. Oh—and four goalies returning doesn’t hurt either.
This might not be their peak year, But it might be the year they become a problem.
The Rest: Depth is Growing
One of the best signs for Section 7? The middle—and bottom—of the section is getting stronger.
Anoka brings back its top scorer and goalie, looking to build off a 4-10 season.
Duluth, after an 11-5 year, faces a major reset with heavy graduation losses—including their head coach—but still found a way to win a playoff game as a 7 seed.
Duluth Marshall quietly impressed at 5-6 and returns much of its scoring core.
Forest Lake struggled at 3-12 but returns its top six scorers—experience that matters.
Hermantown/Proctor sits at .500 but boasts one of the largest rosters in the state, fueled by strong youth participation up north.
Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids brings back its goalie and looks to retool after losing a high-production scorer.
There are no easy nights anymore.
And that’s a good thing.
The Big Picture
Chisago Lakes sits at the top, but the gap is shrinking. Blaine’s young core is rising. Centennial’s experience is battle-tested. Duluth-area programs are getting deeper. And across the section, numbers are growing, talent is developing, and belief is building. This should be a fun section to follow in 2026