Woodbury Boys Lacrosse Advances To Sectional Semifinals

The boys lacrosse team on Friday advanced to the Section 5 semifinals for the first time after an 8-6 win at Edina in a quarterfinal matchup.

Third-seeded Edina led No. 6 seed Woodbury by a narrow margin for much of the game before Jim Redesill tied the game at 6-6 late in the third quarter. The senior midfielder then gave the Royals the lead for good, 7-6, on a power play with just under three minutes elapsed in the fourth quarter—setting off a jubilant celebration on the Woodbury sidelines and among the blue-clad fans bundled in the stands on a chilly evening.

With senior goaltender Alex Linnerooth and the Royals defense holding off Edina's desperate attempts at an equalizer, senior midfielder Christian Turner bought the visitors an insurance policy with a quick-strike goal with 4:30 remaining to put the Royals up by two.

The margin would hold and become final—with senior attack and Mr. Lacrosse nominee Ben Alberts holding the ball for the concluding seconds.

Royals players mobbed Linnerooth in the north goal to celebrate the team's historic victory that improved the squad to 7-8 on the season.

Next up, Woodbury will take on No. 2 Blake in Hopkins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with the victor to likely play No. 1 seed and undefeated defending state champion Benilde-St. Margaret's in the sectional final at 5 p.m. Thursday at Bloomington Kennedy.