Cougars Take Things One Step at a Time

LAKEVILLE, Minn - Last season, the Lakeville South Cougars made a state tournament charge finishing their season with a loss in the consolation championship to Elk-River. That loss in March started the winds of change blowing in the south side of town, leading to a new head coach to lead the charge. Natalie Darwitz is in to lead the young program that has made it to the state tournament two of the past three seasons.

”These first two weeks have probably been the best two weeks of my whole high school career. We’ve learned more in the past two weeks than we ever have in our whole high school career,” said Cougars co-captain Tori Bailey. “I think we’ve really taken big steps as a team that we need to get this first win and go on from there and get where we want to be at the end of the season.”

Darwitz adds a winning attitude and an understanding of what it takes to win at the high school level.

”I know what it’s like to work with a high school team,” said Darwitz. “I was excited to take ownership of this program and to get the season started.”

This year’s version isn’t worried or talking about a return to the state tournament in November. The team will take the ice for the first time against Edina, and will surely get a feel for where they are.

”In the past, it’s always been state, state, state. We still want that, but we are also focusing on the little things,” said senior co-captain Dani Buehrer. “This week we have Edina, let’s focus on that game. If we don’t win that game, we’re not going to get there.”

Taking the time to stay in each moment is something that Darwitz is instilling in her team. Time will tell how the results will work out for the Cougars, but Bailey can already see the positives.

”We’re more focused on just playing the game as a team,” said Bailey. “As the season goes on, we’ll get more into system and the power plays and the penalty kill. We know the basics and as we go along, we’ll get more in depth.”

It will be a tough emotional start to the season with the Hornets at home, then rival Lakeville North early next week.

2011-2012 Schedule:
November 17- Edina (Home)
November 22- Lakeville North (Away)
November 26- North Wright County (Away)
November 28- Owatonna (Away)
December 2- Apple Valley (Home)
December 3- Farmington (Home)
December 6- Burnsville (Away)
December 10- Eagan (Home)
December 13- Rosemount (Home)
December 17- Eastview (Home)
December 20- Bloomington Jefferson (Away)
December 26- Coon Rapids (Home)
January 3- Prior Lake (Home)
January 7- Lakeville North (Home)
January 10- Apple Valley (Away)
January 13- Breck (Away)
January 14- Bloomington Kennedy (Home)
January 17- Burnsville (Home)
January 21- Eagan (Away)
January 24- Rosemount (Away)
January 28- Eastview (Away)
January 31- Bloomington Jefferson (Home)
February 4- Prior Lake (Away)