While much of the Northwest Suburban Conference has beaten up on each other, Irondale’s stranglehold on the league has been a constant. The Knights (7-0, 7-0) are the only unbeaten team remaining in the league, and a win over Centennial could keep Irondale in the driver’s seat for a conference title.
The Cougars, who beat the Knights 12-6 in last season's section playoffs, are coming off a 10-8 win over Blaine on April 30 and have spent a week preparing for the Knights. Centennial (3-2, 3-2) has suffered only single-goal losses this season, falling to Andover (8-7 on April 12) and Champlin Park (9-8 on April 27). Garett Hoch has 10 goals on the season as the Cougars' leading scorer.
Irondale defeated defending league champion Maple Grove 8-7 in double overtime on April 12 and has since stormed through its conference schedule, outscoring competition 93-48. Ryan Solz (16-6-22) leads a group of five runners with double-digit goals and has yet to be held to a single-point game this season.