The Owatonna Girls Lacrosse team started off the season with a tough schedule facing non-conference opponents Lakeville South and Washburn. The team lost their both games, but it showed where their holes are as a team. Afterward they were able to work on their weaknesses in practice and bring those new skills into games. Besides those games and a recent loss to John Marshall, the team has been undefeated and has beaten every Big Nine school at least once. This puts them in place to be co-big nine champions with John Marshall. The team has a new assistant coach this year, Simone Steiskal. She said, “My goal is to leave a positive impact on my players and hoping they can continue their passion for this sport or other things in their future.”

Going into sections as a fourth seed, the team is relying on the chemistry they have developed in all areas of the field and the calmness they have while under pressure. With junior captain Leah Tucker back from an ankle injury, the team believes they will meet their goals but not without focus. Tucker said, “We are good about fixing our mistakes and continuing to find ways to make our team better.” The next girls lacrosse home game is at 7:00 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, May 28.

The Owatonna Boys Lacrosse team holds a record of 3-7. With 13 seniors graduating last year, big shoes were left to fill. The team is young and has not played together before this year. Senior captain Joe Edel said, “We have talent and smart athletes, we just lack the chemistry that those ‘stand out’ teams have.” With every game, the team has improved. One example is when they faced Mankato on Tuesday and lost 10-5, but when they saw them again just two days later, they came out on top.

As the team heads into sections as a seventh seed they hope to keep their current comradery. Edel said, “We have a lot of momentum and it should help push us up in the conference.” They were hoping to be seeded above fourth in order to have a home game but will work hard as the underdogs against Lakeville. Head coach Scott Seykora said, “We will continue working on the little things. Each game watching film and looking for the things we need to improve and continue doing the things that are working.” The boys lacrosse team’s first section game is tonight, Tuesday, May 28 at 5:00 p.m. at Lakeville South High School.