The Prior Lake girls lacrosse team is under new leadership this spring, but the same high expectations remain.

Heather Pierson is taking over a program that has made the state field three straight years, finishing a program-best third last season. Pierson is a former player for the Lakers, graduating in 2009.

Pierson takes over for Ali Minelli-Fenstermacher, who stepped down last summer after six seasons leading the team, Pierson has been an assistant coach for Prior Lake under Minelli-Fenstermacher and she's also been the a developmental director for youth lacrosse for Prior Lake Athletics for Youth (P.L.A.Y.).

Pierson played college lacrosse at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

In her first season leading the Lakers, Pierson hopes to keep the Lakers on the upward trend, including earning a fourth straight state berth. Prior Lake has won the last two South Suburban Conference titles with 9-0 marks and has won 26 of its last 27 league games. It had a program-best 17-2 overall record last year.

"Our girls have set their sights high and are willing to work to get the team [back to state]," Pierson said. "Our hope for the team is not only do they reach their own personal and team goals, but they also are developing qualities that define what hard work, effort and accountability mean, as well as developing the mindset of having the beliefs, attitudes, behaviors and work ethic that separate them from the rest of our opponents,"

The Lakers finished 16-3 overall in both the 2015 and 2016 campaigns, taking fourth at state in 2016 and fifth in 2015.

There's a ton of talent back from last year, including senior forward Lexi Peer, who was second on team with 42 goals, while adding 15 assists.

Ninth-grader Payton Bloedow finished with 32 goals and 13 assists last spring, while junior Jordan Anderson had 25 goals and 15 assists.

Sophomore Josie Kropp chipped in 18 goals and 13 assists, while junior Lauren Wick and senior Kelly Gleason each had 17 goals and 13 assists and senior Abby Muller had 13 goals and 12 assists.

Junior Ashytn King also made a impact offensively with 15 goals, while sophomore Dezi Spratt had eight goals.

Junior Jackie Little is also expected to aid the Lakers' offense, while senior Erin Megarry and junior Kelsey Viger are back on defense, along with ninth-grader Mackenzie Salentre. Junior Reagan Dahl returns to the midfield.

Junior Grace Mattox looks to take over the goalie duties. She appeared in four games last season, making five saves. 

Prior Lake was set to open the season April 14 at Minnetonka, but the game was postponed due to weather. So the Lakers will open at home April 20 against perennial power Blake at 7 p.m.

That's rematch of last year's state semifinals, a 10-9 Blake win. Prior Lake is at Edina April 21 in a battle of Section 6 foes at 2 p.m.

Eden Prairie beat Blake for the state title last year, winning its third straight crown.

Since girls lacrosse became an officially Minnesota State High School League sanctioned sport in 2007, Eden Prairie and Blake are the only two schools to win state titles. Eden Prairie has won five times (2007, 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2017), while Blake has won six crowns (2007 and 2010 to 2014).

Those two programs have met in the title game every year but two — 2013 and 2015.

Prior Lake has lost to Blake the last two seasons in the state semifinals.

In the SSC and Section 6, Apple Valley will be a team to watch. The Eagles have been runner-up to the Lakers in both the SSC and in Section 6 the last two seasons.