The Prior Lake High School boys soccer team has been quietly competing, winning games and earning results against both top conference and section opponents.
The Lakers beat section rival Minnetonka and took a point from state-ranked No. 1 Eden Prairie and conference leader Rosemount, with their only section team loss coming at Edina in August.
As the regular season comes to a close this week, and one game remaining, the Lakers will enter the postseason with a current overall record of 8-3-3 and are poised to host the first section match, with the opponent yet to be determined.
When recalling the season, senior defender Colton Smith said, “It’s been a really fun season, and we’ve had a bunch of competitive games. We’ve figured out how to work together and compete against really big-name teams.”
With 15 seniors on the roster, the Lakers have a talented team with 11 starting members and depth off the bench. “The majority of our team are seniors, so it’s kind of our last run,” said senior forward and leading goal scorer, Nick Rafat. “We think we can go far this year.”
This team shares a camaraderie and a bond that can only be created from years of playing together. With dinners and bus rides, time spent together off the field and genuine friendships, the connection between players translates to success on the field.
“The bond we have with one another is unmatched; it’s unlike any other team I’ve played with before… on and off the field, we’re always looking out for each other’s best interests,” senior leader and midfielder Advyay Chauhan said about what makes the Laker team special.
Regular season play for high school is intense, demanding both physically and mentally, with 15 games in just short of eight weeks. With 22 years of experience coaching at the high school level, head coach Mike Shebuski manages the team effectively, citing the program motto: “Better People, Better Leaders, Better Lakers” as what drives how the team operates each season. He said he reinforces the belief that success doesn’t always have to do with wins, losses or stats, but instead, looking for growth, courage and character.
Reflecting on the season, Shebuski says, “I’m really enjoying the season with this team. I think we’re doing great things on the field, and I’m proud of how the team has responded and learned from challenges, how we try to play and how we compete.”
Looking ahead to section playoffs, the Lakers know they face a challenge. Section 2AAA is one of the toughest in the state year after year, and with single elimination play, there is no room for error.
“We know our section is great, some of the best players, coaches and teams out there,” Shebuski said. “We try to stay focused on one game at a time. We believe that the best version of us can compete with any team in the state on any given day.”
The first round of sections will be played on Oct. 13.