Edina and Minnetonka last met on May 1, and the Hornets escaped with a 9-8 home victory.
Edina, No. 5 by the Minnesota Girls' Lacrosse Coaches Association rankings from May 10, will have to be at the top of its game to repeat the result on the Skippers' home turf when the teams play Thursday.
The Hornets (3-4, 3-2) may not have the prototypical record for a top-ranked team, but their losses have come against No. 2 Prior Lake (18-5 on April 21), No. 1 Eden Prairie (18-5 on April 24 and 18-6 on May 10) and No. 4 Blake (9-8 on May 8).
Loli Fidler has led Edina offensively this season, scoring 18 goals and dishing out seven assists. The senior scored twice and added an assist in the win against Minnetonka two weeks ago, and will certainly be called on again in this matchup.
With the exception of a 8-7 victory at Blake on May 11, the Skippers (4-4, 2-2) have also faced and stumbled against elite competition this season. Minnetonka has losses to Prior Lake (10-4 on April 24), Eden Prairie (14-4 on April 26), No. 8 Chanhassen (6-5 on April 27) and Edina, and with home-field advantage in the rematch with the Hornets, the Skippers will be looking to reverse the trend.
The No. 9 Skippers have had the more potent offense this season, led by Julia Gallogly (21 goals, 6 assists) and Minnie Bittell (20 goals, 8 assists). If Minnetonka can get Gallogly and Bittell going early against Edina, the Skippers will have a real chance at avenging their earlier loss and record another victory over a ranked foe.