FARMINGTON, Minn. -- Farmington girls lacrosse graduated a large senior class in 2025 from a team that reached the section finals. That includes several of their top scorers and their goalie. This spring features a young roster and their netminder is brand new to the sport.

Don't let that fool you. These Tigers expect to contend.

Senior midfielder Jaida Steffes, who led the team in scoring (64 goals, 29 assists) last season, is pumped to see the new group develop, "Last year I think a lot of teams were able to read us so well because we had the same players for the past three, four years.

"We have so much new blood in our team. So, I'm just really excited to see what these little girls can do. They have already stepped up a lot. I think it's good to have new fresh legs in."

Through a 5-3 start to the season (as of May 6) Steffes has 36 goals with 20 assists. Junior Amanda Kubes has 32 goals and eight assists. Lila Steffes has added ten goals and seven assists. Sophomore Thea Kluender and eighth grader Greta Topel each have seven goals and two helpers.

After getting her taste of varsity in junior high and starting since ninth grade, Jaida Steffes wants to set the tone for the younger players, "I want to be that supporter for the younger people coming in. We have pretty much a brand-new team this year."

Coach Brooke Rutherford says she is the player to do that, "Jaida Steffes one-hundred percent leads by example. She works harder than anybody else on the field and off the field. And she's somebody that other girls can look up to in every realm.

"What's nice is our captains, each of them this year, are in different positions. That was very strategic in that sense, knowing we had a young team. So that there is a captainship voice at every single one. My captains are probably the most positive people on the team."

She says they are "the hype women" that pick up the team when it's down. This spring's FHS roster has four seniors.

Defense is the spot where Farmington has more experience, "We have three senior defenders returning. Our fourth defender is a returning varsity player…They have experience. So, I expect a little bit more from them and they've definitely shown up," stated Rutherford.

Senior Lilly Lares likes how the back line worked together in 2025, "Our defense was really locked in. We did really good. I think we worked good as a team and knew each other personally. So, I think that helped. And this year is the same thing.
"I'm optimistic. I love this team. I love the people. New faces are great too. They're ready to learn," says Lares who joined the sport in eighth grade to try something new.

She is ready to support the newcomer Reese Lindgren in goal, "I'm excited for her. ..She's going to learn a lot…Communicate. Be able to talk to her. Hype her up too. Tell her she's doing good."

Rutherford says the sophomore goalie is brand new to lacrosse, "She's never even touched a lacrosse stick in her life before this year. She had no idea what lacrosse was."

It's not the first time the Tigers have tabbed a hockey goalie to step between the pipes on a lacrosse field. One day she showed up to a captain's practice with all the gear, "She was getting pelted. She was getting shots everywhere and she just took it.

And she just shook it right off. And I was, ok, we can work with her." Lindgren has a strong .570 save percentage, putting her among the top 20 in the state.

Junior Amara Zens has played since fourth grade and is loving the experience, "These are all my friends. It's easy to show up to practice when they're all your friends. I'm just the happiest when I'm here."

She is a third-year starter at attack, "I've gotten more confident with driving to the net and passing. I've found my spot on the team as assisting and feeding from X (position behind the net on offense)."

Zens had four goals and 12 assists as a sophomore. She's exceeded those numbers at the midway point of this season with eight goals and 13 assists.

She says the offense is different, "Last year we ran a ton of plays. This year is so different…We're spreading out, passing it around, waiting for the opportunities to come rather than forcing anything."

Rutherford says teamwork has shown up early in the season with many of their goals coming with assists, "Knowing that we have depth and we work together and it's not just one person driving and one person taking the wheel.

"After our first game, I laughed and I said I don't know how someone is going to be able to scout us. Assists all over the board. Goals all over the board. Turnovers all over the board. Ground balls all over the board."

FHS faced their big rival Lakeville South on Thursday, May 7 at Tiger Stadium and defeated the Cougars 8-5. The Cougars have ended Farmington's season the last four years, three times in the section finals.

The Tigers host Shakopee on Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 pm for their regular season home finale. Their final three games are at Rosemount on Thursday, May 14; at Lakeville North on Tuesday, May 19; and at Owatonna on Thursday, May 21.

Two of the Tigers' three losses as of May 6 were by one goal (9-8 at Hudson and 15-14 versus Hill-Murray). The other was to defending state champ Prior Lake by a respectable 18-10.

Section playoffs begin on Tuesday, May 26. Section 1A includes Farmington, Lakeville North and South, Mankato, New Prague, Northfield, Owatonna, three Rochester schools, and Southwest Minnesota Chrisitan.

Zens believes the team is dedicated, "Work hard in practice. Also work hard at home, doing our own stuff. Running, hitting the wall. Everything outside of practice is also important, how you're eating, treating your body, stretching."

Steffes likes their home field advantage, "The tiger eyes and I love the music (Chicago Bulls theme) we run out to. Just being at home is so special. We have our fans here. And after each goal, my dad (public address announcer Jim) says, roar."

Rutherford says don't underestimate them, "Everyone was saying last year was our year. We have 15 seniors. It's our year. But watching this team play together, I've coached for high school now for 11 years, and I've never seen a team be more of a team…It's been nice to see them be best friends on and off the field."