East Ridge’s Grant Edwards may not have been able to feel his hands after Thursday night’s 10-9 home win over Eagan in the season opener. But senior midfielder was feeling something else: elation.
Edwards scooped up a loose ball and fired it past Wildcats goaltender John Courington with 27 seconds left in regulation to give the Raptors a thrilling victory in wet and cold conditions.
“Definitely the biggest goal of my life so far,” said Edwards, who notched 13 goals and 17 points last season. “Hopefully, more to come though.”
Edwards is off to a great pace. The game-winner was his second goal of the game and earned Edwards his seventh career multi-goal game.
The goal capped East Ridge’s late rally, a comeback partially spurred by a stinging defeat in last year’s Section 4 championship game.
The Raptors boasted a 13-2 record heading into the section final, where they ended the season with a 9-8 loss to Mahtomedi.
That one-goal defeat - along with a couple other late-game lapses - serves as motivation for East Ridge this year, senior attackman Max Cooper said.
“In fourth quarters, we remember (losing),” said Cooper, who had a team-high four goals against the Wildcats. “It reminds us to play hard every game.”
On Thursday, the Raptors certainly played like they remembered. East Ridge rattled off three unanswered goals to overcome a 9-7 deficit against a skilled Eagan team.
Edwards’ goal was crucial to the victory, but wasn’t his first clutch performance for the Raptors. However, he his humble and relaxed demeanor away from the field keeps Edwards from donning the aura of superstar, East Ridge coach Aime Caines said.
“He’s a quiet guy,” Caines said with a smile. “But I think when he puts on that helmet, he changes.”
Caines added that Edwards, who is a team captain, chooses to lead through his actions, not words.
“He’s a captain by example,” Caines said.
Opening the season against a perennially strong program such as Eagan provides East Ridge with good early test, said Caines, who added that the Wildcats are worthy of a spot in the top 10 when the rankings are released.
“We want to play those teams and show everyone in the state that we’re here to compete," he said.
Caines’ confident attitude has trickled down to his players, including Cooper, who said the Raptors can compete with the state’s top teams.
“We want to be the best, we believe we’re the best, and we’re ready to take out the best,” Cooper said.
Eagan forward Shane Kalb races past East Ridge attacker Mac Webb in a 10-9 loss on the road in Woodbury. Photo by Rick Orndorf
Senior midfielder Grant Edwards scored two goals, including the game-winner with 27 seconds to play, to lift East Ridge past Eagan 10-9 in the season opener on a cold and wet Thursday night at East Ridge High School.
Edwards picked up a loose ball in the Eagan zone and ripped a shot past Wildcats freshman goaltender John Courington to give the Raptors the victory.
Senior attackman Max Cooper led East Ridge with four goals. Junior midfielder Evan Woodward scored three and senior attackman Roman Woodward added one for the Raptors (1-0).
Eagan senior midfielder Shane Kalb had a team-high four goals. Junior attackman Nick Johnson scored twice, while senior attackman Kevin Sturgeon, junior midfielder Jonathon Lee and senior attackman Noah Simpson each scored a goal for the Wildcats (0-1).
