State Tournament Recap

Maple Grove Ultimate defeated Open World Learning Community to clinch its second consecutive birth into the division one state tournament in its two year history. Last season Maple Grove lost a play in game to Cretin Derham Hall and ended up as the eighth overall seed. They then lost their three pool play games to Central, Charter, and Hopkins. Then lost their two Sunday games to White Bear and Southwest giving them a 16th place finish.

This season Maple Grove came in as the fifteen seed in a pool with Eagan(7), Hopkins(2), and Eastview(10). In their first game, Maple Grove played a back and forth barn burner with Eagan losing 16-15 on universe point. In the second game, Maple Grove played Hopkins in a rematch from last year's state tournament. This time around MG not only took a 1-0 lead, but a 2-1, and 3-2 lead ultimately falling 15-6 improving upon 15-4 last year. In their final game Saturday Maple Grove played Eastview and was rained out after a few points. When they resumed in Maple Grove during the middle of the week, Maple Grove took it to them winning 14-9 to supplement their 16-15 victory over Eastview earlier in the season.

Due to the rain delay from Saturday, the bracket play was slightly disturbed. Maple Grove took third in the pool lining them up for the ninth place bracket, but had to play a meaningless game versus Cretin before hand. Maple Grove lost a close 10-12 affair under cap before playing and defeating St Paul Central in the ninth place bracket. But then instead of playing Prior Lake for ninth place, they found themselves playing Mounds View and won again for an eleventh place finish. A great showing in their second year in the state tournament.

Now a fantastic season concludes improving upon year one's sixteenth place finish even after losing 13 seniors and returning only six players. Next season? They lose 3 seniors to graduation, and return 13 players.
Watch Out.