Eden Prairie's Naomi Rogge is Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year in girls' lacrosse

A parade of talented athletes have pushed the Eden Prairie girls' lacrosse program to four state tournament championships and five runner-up finishes.

This year's team, featuring four players committed to Division I programs, is no exception. There is something special, however, about midfielder Naomi Rogge.

"After 18 years of coaching lacrosse in Minnesota, I believe that Naomi Rogge is the most talented and skillful lacrosse player of all time," said Judy Baxter, architect of the Eagles' powerful program.

The Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, Rogge leads two-time defending state champion Eden Prairie (15-1) with 81 goals in 16 games. Beyond averaging five goals per game, Rogge leads the Eagles assists, ground balls, draw controls, interceptions and caused turnovers.

Told of her coach's high praise, the normally loquacious Rogge paused, then simply replied, "That was very nice."

Crazy thing is, Rogge has signed to play college hockey at Minnesota Duluth.

Lacrosse, she said, was "more of a hobby" as a youngster. Things got more serious before Rogge's junior year, when Baxter encouraged her to consider college lacrosse.

"She could have been playing at Maryland or one of those programs," Baxter said.

The decision to stick with hockey, Rogge said, came after "a lot of tears and talking" with her parents and older brother Mitch.

"I picked hockey because that is my true passion," said Rogge, a Ms. Hockey Award finalist.

A hockey future did not diminish Rogge's lacrosse and soccer commitments. Bucking the specialization trend, she practiced all three sports in the same day many times during summer months.

"Just being in 100 percent can take you a long way," Rogge said.

As an eighth-grader, Rogge missed the varsity lacrosse cut, yet watched as her good friends and classmates Hannah Brink and Sammie Morton began their varsity careers.

Though disappointed, Rogge said she "knew I had to work harder for this. My parents taught me that you always have to work for something. And watching my older brother and his hard work during his hockey career, taught me a lot."

That drive never left.

"Naomi has an exceptional work ethic, all the time," Baxter said. "She works hard for every ball, on the ground or in the air, no matter the opponent, no matter the score, in practice as well as in games.

"She is speedy, agile, incredibly fluid with her stick and has amazing eye-hand timing," Baxter said.

It all comes from Rogge's commitment to be the best she can be, whatever the sport. Her lacrosse career brought great success and reinforced a greater lesson.

"You don't just get put on this team and then you automatically play," she said. "You have to work for what you want."

David La Vaque