A canceled 2020 season led to — based on 2019 lineups — major roster shakeups this spring. Yet, despite the pandemic and all the chaos that has come with it, apparently not much has changed with Blake and Chanhassen, two high-powered programs set to meet on Friday.
Two years ago the Bears and Storm each were on the cusp of reaching the state tournament, but both lost in section championships. Despite a plethora of new faces for each program, deep playoff runs for both seem highly likely again this year, as Blake is outscoring its opponents by a combined 70-21. Chanhassen, ranked No. 4 in the coaches' poll from May 4, is coming off a week in which it beat No. 1 Benilde-St. Margaret’s 11-10 on Tuesday and No. 5 Prior Lake 6-5 on Saturday. In between was Thursday’s 9-5 loss to No. 3 Edina.
Blake (6-0, 3-0) boasts four double-digit goal scorers, led by junior midfielder Eli Daniel’s 18 through the Bears' first five games this season. Junior midfielder Brady Grandstaff’s 16 goals leads Chanhassen (7-1, 3-0).