5 high school lacrosse stars: April 23 edition (2024)

Laina Gustafson shouldered much of the Middleton lacrosse offensive load Thursday against Waunakee.

The senior midfielder scored two first quarter goals while assisting senior attacker Abby Tubbs on another two goals during the period. The teammates, who've played together since the fourth grade, helped Middleton take a commanding 5-0 lead en route to a 19-8 win.

“I feel like we have really good communication on the field even if it’s not verbal,” Gustafson said. “We’re able to look at each other and make a play in that split-second change of the ball which is really fun.”

Gustafson’s scoring outburst continued throughout the game, as she finished with a game-high five goals.

She scored twice in the opening minute of the third quarter, alluding defenders as she raced down the field after winning each midfield faceoff. Gustafson carried this success into Middleton’s game against Sun Prairie United on Friday, scoring a hat trick in the 18-2 win.

“I like using bounce shots to score when there’s a lot of people in front of you and you don’t have a great angle,” Gustafson said. “If you bounce it the ball is super unexpected in where it’s going and take the goalie off guard without getting too close to the goal."

Waunakee's ToriBialkowski scores hat trick through injury

Tori Bialkowski is a senior leader on a Waunakee girls lacrosse team that's "young and scared at times when attacking," she said.

Determined to lead her more inexperienced teammates, Bialkowski is playing through a torn quadricep injury she suffered in the Warriors' 16-2 loss against Oregon on April 12. The injury didn’t prevent the senior from scoring three goals on Thursday.

Bialkowski scored twice on free position shots, before leaving the game in the third quarter to attend to her injured quad.

“Sometimes during the game the pain comes on and it’s like a pinching feeling,” Bialkowski said. “I’ve been dealing with it by icing it and taking breaks when I can.”

Upon returning in the fourth quarter, Bialkowski scored a goal with 7 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game to earn the hat trick.

“With Middleton’s goalie being really tall and her hands mainly at the top of the net, I went for lower shots because they’re harder on her,” Bialkowski said.

Brayden Schmidt helps Madison Edgewood rebound

Madison Edgewood co-op (Madison Knights) was seeking a bounce back win Wednesday night when it traveled to Watertown. The Knights were coming off a 11-4 loss to Milwaukee Marquette on April 13, ending their undefeated start to the season.

Team captain Brayden Schmidt played a pivotal role in the Knights' 11-3 win over Watertown. He finished with a team-high three goals and two assists, according to wisconsinlacrossehub.

Despite missing Saturday’s game against Oregon, the senior who’ll play at Aurora University next year, leads the team with 11 goals and five assists this season.

“Brayden is passionate toward performing in his role and learning how to be the best leader he can be on this team,” Edgewood coach Mike Reiter said. “He’s a terrific teammate and is always the player we can count on to make the tough plays.”

Alaina Kerl helps end DeForest's losing streak

With the DeForest co-op girls lacrosse team having only 14 players, Alaina Kerl is one of three midfielders that play the entire game.

In her 48 minutes against Sun Prairie United on Thursday, the senior was “everywhere on that field,” DeForest coach Jayna Poster said.

Kerl scored four goals and had a team-high three assists in the Norskies’ 13-11 victory. She also helped DeForest control time of possession with six draw controls.

Defensively, Kerl impacted the game by forcing a turnover and scooping nine ground balls.

“Alaina is an amazing player and someone on our team that’s an asset at every position,” Poster said.

OwenKoch leads Edgewood's attack

After scoring 26 goals for Madison Edgewood’s boys hockey team this winter, Owen Koch has brought his goal-scoring prowess to the lacrosse field.

The sophom*ore attacker ranks second on the Knights with 10 goals this season and is tied for the team-high five assists, according to wisconsinlacrossehub.

Koch had a goal and two assists against Watertown. He topped that performance by scoring three goals against Oregon. It was Koch's second hat trick of the year, after earning one in the Knights’ 7-6 season opening win over Sun Prairie United.

Last week's Supernova poll

Congratulations to Oregon's Israel Mikkelson, who received 81% of the vote inlast week’s poll. Here is this week's poll.