Eastview's Tvedt Leading Girls Lacrosse Team In Net

Shots on goal don’t intimidate Taylor Tvedt. As far as she’s concerned, the more, the better.

The Eastview girls lacrosse goalie has seen more than 30 shots per game this season, and Tvedt continues to stand tall. Through Thursday’s loss to Lakeville South, Tvedt led the state with a .700 save percentage.

Tvedt, a sophomore, wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I actually prefer having more [shots],” said Tvedt, in her second season with the Lightning’s varsity team. “It keeps me on my toes a little bit. Today was a bit less, which makes it harder for me personally. I don’t mind the extra shots out there.”

Tvedt began playing goalie as a sixth-grader and has become one of the state’s top athletes at her position. She currently leads Breck’s Caroline Griffith (.688) in the state save percentage charts.

Eastview certainly appreciates her tenacity in goal.

The Lightning (5-6 overall) have a young team this spring. Their roster has two seniors and is heavily made up of five sophomores, four freshmen and an eighth-grader.

That inexperience leads to more shots against—including a season-high 51 shots on goal for Rosemount/Eagan on May 5.

Not surprisingly, it’s during that game against the Wild Irish that Tvedt recalls her favorite moment of the year. After releasing a big rebound after her initial save, Tvedt recovered, dove and retrieved a second shot before it entered the net.

“It was pretty exciting,” Tvedt said.

Tvedt’s aggressiveness in net is what makes her such an efficient goaltender, Lightning coach Lauren DeZellar said.

Having Tvedt in goal is like having an eighth defender on the field, DeZellar said, because she is willing to challenge opposing attackers before they get too close to the cage.

“If someone goes to shoot, she’ll take it away and cause a turnover for our team and pass up field to someone else,” DeZellar said. “She’s just a big asset to our team, to our defense.”

DeZellar said that aggressive nature, along with Tvedt's ability to recover and watch plays develop on the field will help her as she prepares for collegiate lacrosse.

Tvedt said she hopes to play Division I, and DeZellar said Tvedt has the intangibles to make her a viable college goalie.

“When people come to see her, they’re going to see that,” DeZellar said. “That’s what makes a good college player.”

For now, Tvedt is focused on helping her Lightning squad finish out the season and make a run into the playoffs.

She’ll put the team on her back if she needs to.

“My adrenaline is always pumping,” Tvedt said. “I always love the big stage. I always get really excited out there.”