Holy Angels has started fast this season but faces a potential speed bump when hosting fellow Section 6 competitor Eastview on Saturday.
The Stars have been the most productive team in the state this season, scoring 78 goals in five wins. Holy Angels (5-0) has been fueled by Jason Kraus, whose 26 goals and 17 assists lead the state. He has yet to tally less than seven points in a game this season, though the Stars have played a less competitive schedule.
The combined record of Holy Angels’ opponents this spring is 4-15, and the Stars may be in for a wake-up call against an Eastview program that's accustomed to facing — and defeating — tough competition. The Lightning own a 25-5 record over the past two seasons and are coming off a 15-1 year that ended with a 6-5 loss to Prior Lake in the section final.
Nothing is a given, however, as Eastview has dropped its last two games — including a 12-11 loss Bloomington Jefferson on April 28.
The Lightning (1-2, 0-1) look to find their form this week, and Army commit Joey Stillings could help his team’s offense thrive as he tallied five goals and four assists in Eastview's 17-3 win over Rochester Century on April 24.
Defeating the Lightning could allow Holy Angels to assert itself as a force in the playoffs — especially after an early exit in last year's section quarterfinals.