Stillwater has finished at or near the top of the Suburban East Conference standings every season in recent memory, but several factors may change their final position this year, including a challenge from a new kid on the block.
Aa 3-0 start means Forest Lake is on pace to put together one of its best seasons in a decade and be in the mix for the Suburban East crown at the end of the regular season.
On Thursday, the teams meet in our Top Game of the Week.
Stillwater has become a regular contender in the Suburban East, finishing second in the standings last season and taking first in 2017, 2016 and 2015.
The Ponies have also made eight consecutive state tournament appearances.
Yet, it has not been a perfect start to the season for the normally consistent and steady Stillwater program. The Ponies, ranked No. 5 in the April 25 state coaches' poll, have losses to No. 10 Breck (11-9 on April 16) and No. 3 Chanhassen (17-5 on April 18), but also defeated No. 7 Lakeville North 9-5 on April 15 and added two more victories last week to nudge their record to 3-2 and 2-0 in league play.
It's a record that could see wins added thanks to an offense that has shown signs of heating up.
After scoring less than 10 goals in each of the first four games, the Stillwater broke out for 16 goals in an April 25 win against East Ridge. Victories for the Ponies may continue to blossom if the scoring stays that way into May.
Junior Meredith Parry has been a driving force on offense this year, with four goals in four of the first five games. She and teammate Annie McGuire, who each have more than 10 goals this season, should continue to power the Ponies.
Forest Lake is aiming to ascend the conference ladder and a win against Stillwater would provide a massive step in the program's progression.
The Rangers finished in the middle of the pack after going 4-4 against league opponents last year — their best conference finish in eight seasons.
Forest Lake (3-0, 2-0) can find optimism in its unbeaten start that includes conference wins against Roseville and Park of Cottage Grove (12-6 on April 23 and 9-8 on April 25, respectively).
Freshman Brooke Glumack had a breakout performance last week, scoring her first four goals of the season in the critical early season victory over Park.