FARMINGTON, Minn. -- A mountain hike isn't over until you have reached the peak. The Farmington boys lacrosse team is off to a tremendous start this spring but there is a long way to go.

Coach Mitch Grengs wants the team to enjoy it, "We're just focusing constantly on hiking up the mountain. Step after step. Day after day, enjoying the process. You get caught up in the rankings and the goals. We just found it kind of kills the joy of it. Might as well enjoy the journey while walking up."

Through a 6-0 start including a 14-2 win over defending state champion Edina on April 23, the Tigers are the second highest scoring team in the state with 17 goals per game. At the same time holding opponents to less than four goals per contest, also second best. A 16-0 victory over Mahtomedi on April 15 was their first shutout since the 2021 season. That's with a new goalie stepping in this year.

Senior attack Caden Hennes led the team in scoring in 2025 (38 goals, 24 assists). He has 28 points already in 2026 on 16 goals and 12 assists, "Last year what made us so good is we were so deep and we return a lot of that. We return five of our six starting offensive guys…We did a good job moving the ball and pushing the pace. I think we're going to keep doing that this year."

During the flow of the offense, "The biggest thing is trying to draw two and then move the ball. If you are running over the top, you dodge or making a play, wait until you draw another guy and then you move the ball and if no one comes you, just shoot it."

Senior captain and midfielder Drake Anderson says the Tigers plan to turn the pressure up, "I think all of our players are super talented on the offensive side. But now this year we're trying to push the pace more and catch them off what they're normally doing."

Grengs says last year they were a ball-control team, "This year we realized the athletes that we have and a lot of them like to run free. So, in the offseason when we saw them in the summer league games, they like to push. They like to play fast. They like to play creative. So, we're going to allow that creativity and speed.

"We're actually looking at the defense as an extension of the offense. They're playing a role in that transition, pushing and getting turnovers…High pressure."

Tony Minks, a senior captain, has sat behind five-year starter in goal Hayden Houghton. But took advantage of the times he got on the field, "Get some experience. Make some saves when I can. Just get used to the systems, the pace of the varsity field."

He said it was important time, even if it was limited, "Getting in and seeing just how fast, how much the varsity guys talked. And how fast the offensive guys moved the ball. Just take shots from them was huge."

Minks used his time wisely as the back-up since joining the program in eighth grade, "Being able to sit behind him every practice and every game and watched him on film. I think of it like a back-up quarterback situation. You draft a young guy. You let him sit behind a veteran for a few years and then put him in.

"The way he cleared it. The way he pushed. I take a couple of things out of his stance. Maybe his style in net," Minks explained.

Of his first-year starting goalie, Grengs says, "He's had varsity experience. But basically, building up his confidence. Hey, this is your spot now. You own it. Make the most of it, which I am very confident that he will."

Farmington's only loss last season came in the section finals to Lakeville North, 9-8 in overtime, the third straight season the Panthers ended the Tigers' season in the section finals. FHS has one state tournament appearance in 2022.

With a big senior group that's played together for many years, defense/midfield Ryder Anderson takes pride in leading as a captain, "This team has been growing with each other our entire lives pretty much since 12-U and knowing that I can be a part of keeping that connection."

He says they can't take a day off, "Every day is serious for us. There's no goof off days or anything. As you can see, there's a lot of people doing after-practice work, hitting the walls and just shooting it around and having fun."

Coming so close to state last year provides inspiration for Ryder Anderson, "Motivational level is at its highest. We all want the same thing. Our heads are at the same goal right now."

Drake Anderson adds, "I think for a lot of us that is our motivation, how last year ended. Most of our midfielders are seniors and a lot of the defense. We want to make a good run before we can't do it anymore."

Hennes says numerous players compete on club teams during the off-season. Others get a jump-start on the season with captains' practice, working out in the gym and running.

No. 1 rated Farmington goes to No. 4 Minnetonka for a 1:00 pm tilt on Saturday, May 2. The Tigers open a three-game homestand with Eastview/Apple Valley on Tuesday, May 5. Lakeville South comes to FHS on Thursday, May 7. A match-up with Shakopee is set for Tuesday, May 12. Each of those three dates at Tiger Stadium is a doubleheader with the girls.

After that it's road games at Rosemount on Thursday, May 14 and North on Tuesday, May 19. FHS beat the Panthers during the regular season in 2025 and went on to win the South Suburban Conference title. The regular season ends on Friday, May 22 at FHS against Centennial.

Playoffs begin on Tuesday, May 26. Section 1 includes Farmington, Lakeville North and South, Rochester, Northfield, Owatonna, New Prague and Southwest Christian.