“I think our team is strong and I think the best part of our team is our defense. We gave Prior Lake quite a bit of possession at times and our defense never really cracked,” Rogers said.

While the Lakers, ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, possessed the ball well throughout the game, it was a set piece that produced their best chance.

In the second half, Tyler Trachsel lined up for a free kick on the left side of the box, about 25 yards away from goal. It’s an angle you’d expect superstar professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo to shoot from, but not many high schoolers. Trachsel sent a low-driving rocket right at the near post, and Luca Vereecken dove down to make the tough save. Other than that attempt, the Lakers struggled to create chances, thanks to the defensive work of Grant Altman, Alejandro Ferrer-Lugo, Nate Vogel and the rest of the team.

As for the attacking, it was No. 4-2A Minnetonka’s Niko Zbilic who scored the game’s only goal, which was created from a nice build-up play through the midfield. After multiple passes moved the Lakers around, Sergio Rivas went down the right side, making a simple pass to Zbilic that he was able to finish off for his second goal of the year.

The Skippers (8-1-4, 2-1-2) could have had a couple more goals, but Lakers goalkeeper Michael Phelan made some crucial saves and challenges as a sweeper to keep Prior Lake in the game. Most notably, he made an acrobatic save against a first-time shot from Alex Piguillem. On the attempt, Piguillem got space and fired a curling effort from just outside the box, pinpointed for the bottom right corner. Phelan had to fully extend on a dive to push it away and keep his team within one goal.

It was a frustrating day for the Lakers, but coach Mike Shebuski was impressed with how his team played.

“Our ability to move the ball around is something that we’ve been working on, so it was nice to see us being able to possess it and create some opportunities,” he said.

He was also pleased with the team’s defensive performance, as they were able to limit the many “dangerous” attacks the Skippers possess.

Now with this game over, it’s only natural to imagine a rematch happening in the Class 2A, Section 2 tournament in a couple weeks. These teams could be the top two seeds in the tournament, and if they face each other again, it’s something both teams will embrace.

“We’d love it, I think both teams would love it. It’s always a good battle, it’s always a great game and we know there will be a lot of passion and excitement involved,” Shebuski said regarding a possible rematch.

"I'm happy to play anybody," Rogers said. "I think our defense is going to lead us through that section."