Boys Lacrosse: 800 Percent Improved

Team and Offensive MVP Trevor Howard (photo by Jim Lindquist)

What a difference a year makes.

Last spring Farmington won its first game in the short two-year history of the sport. This year coach Paul Sorensen's squad showed an 800 percent improvement, finishing 8-6 overall and winning its first-ever post season game.

"We set some pre-season goals and the only one we didn't accomplish was beating Lakeville North," he said, "so I would say we had a very successful year.

"We excelled in all key areas like ground balls, face-offs, time of possession and goals for and against. Of the teams we lost to, all had winning records except one...We played as a team all season."

All in all, 24 players earned varsity letters for their efforts during the 2012 season, only seven of whom were seniors: captains Matt Ackerman, Mitch Collier, Trevor Howard and Charlie Weierke, Alex Rojesky, Marty Gliva and John Youngkrantz.

Other monogram winners included juniors Brendon Berg, Matt Heinzerling-Wiese, Nathan Brunelle, Alex Osborn, Jake Bauman, Joey Todd and Alex Schrafft; sophomores Alex Aubrecht, Dan Block, Chris Fitzgibbons, Caleb Hakala. Corey Rudrud, Nicholas Workman, Kevin Clifton, Michael Thompson and Max Willis and ninth-grader Garrett Gunderson.

Senior co-captain Charlie Weierke (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Howard, the team's leading point-getter, took home the team and offensive Most Valuable Player awards while Heinzerling-Wiese won defensive MVP honors. Berg who scored a state-record eight goals in a playoff game was the team's Most Improved Player.

Sorensen said the 2012 season was one of firsts for his program. First win over Chaska/Chanhassen, Lakeville South, Rochester John Marshall, Rochester Mayo, Rochester Century, Simley and East Ridge. First winning season. First sectional home game. First playoff win. First year outscoring the opposition for the season.

The Tigers racked up 101 goals, almost double their offensive production in 2011 (51 goals).

Brendon Berg state-record 8 goals in a playoff game (photo by Jim Lindquist)

 Sorensen said he was disappointed in his team's close losses to Holy Angels and Lakeville North and a home defeat to Chaska/Chanhassen but the biggest downer of the year came in the loss of Collier to a broken leg early in the season.

"Mitch was our emotional and spiritual leader and was on pace for a 40-point season," he said.

Sorensen said all seven seniors will be missed once practice time rolls around next spring.

"Our four captains were fantastic role models both in their play and how they faced adversity," he said. "The other three were there every step of the way. All of them persevered through all of the tough times. I'm exceptionally glad they could go out on a high note. They deserved it."

Although the sevens seniors will be missed, Sorensen said he is confident his program is on solid footing for the years ahead.

"We'll have a lot of experienced players back next year," he said. "Our youth numbers are the highest they have been and the coaches are the best we've had. We are looking for that youth movement to carry us into the future."

Statistical Leaders (regular season)

Goals
Berg 25
Ackerman 22
Howard 18

Co-captain Matt Ackerman 32 points (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Assists
Howard 38
Ackerman 10


Points
Howard 56
Ackerman 32
Berg 32
Bauman 10