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Early push from Edina girls hold off Minnetonka

By Nolan O'Hara, SportsEngine, 05/11/21, 6:00PM CDT

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The Hornets used a nine-goal first half to gain some space on the Skippers en route to a victory.

Edina's Haley Reeck (2) knocks the ball away from Kayley Crawford (11) in the second half. Reeck score six goals for the Hornets in a 15-9 win over Lake Conference rival Minnetonka on Tuesday night. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Edina's Haley Reeck (2) knocks the ball away from Kayley Crawford (11) in the second half. Reeck scored six goals for the Hornets in a 15-9 win over Lake Conference rival Minnetonka on Tuesday night. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

When the pandemic ended the 2020 lacrosse season before it started, Edina standout Haley Reeck was hopeful for a restart to the season. Reeck trained with her then-teammate Helen Propson; they went on runs, played “wall ball” and kept each other motivated. If the season were to restart, they were going to be ready.  

“That just kind of kept us going,” Reeck said. “I just think (to) keep being in shape was the thing. I was like, ‘Well, we’ll come out better next year then.’” 

Propson and the rest of last year’s seniors have graduated, but Reeck and Edina have been playing better than ever before. The Hornets, ranked No. 1 by the Minnesota Girls’ Lacrosse Coaches’ Association, have beat four ranked opponents, including a 15-9 victory on Tuesday over No. 6 Minnetonka at Minnetonka High School. The win earned the Hornets the Lake Conference title.

Sophomore midfielder Nicola Santoni (20) picks up a loose ball on a first half turnover. Santoni helped Edina to a 15-9 win, scoring three goals. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Sophomore midfielder Nicola Santoni (20) picks up a loose ball on a first half turnover. Santoni helped Edina to a 15-9 win, scoring three goals. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

First Report

In a battle of unbeatens, Edina justified its No. 1 spot in the Minnesota Girls’ Lacrosse Coaches’ Association poll. The Hornets were dominant for 50 minutes Tuesday, topping Minnetonka 15-9 at Minnetonka High School. 

The Hornets (8-0, 6-0) scored the opening three goals of the game, two of which came from Louisville commit Haley Reeck. Reeck was a force for the Hornets throughout the night, finishing with six goals and sparking a number of successful Hornets’ possessions. 

Initially, No. 6 Minnetonka had an answer. After a pair of Edina penalties, including one that sidelined Reeck, the Skippers (7-1, 4-1) were able to tie the game 3-3. Junior Ava Rajala scored the game-tying goal, which was the first of two on the night. 

But the Hornets proceeded to score six unanswered to go into the break with a 9-3 advantage. They added one more just 14 seconds into the second half, when sophomore midfielder Nicola Santoni struck again for the Hornets. Santoni finished with three goals. The Skippers answered with a three-goal run, but the Hornets pulled away down the stretch as Reeck punched in another pair of goals. 

Junior Cordelia Flemming also contributed three goals for the Hornets. Along with Rajala’s two goals, Jordyn Helling and Hanna Baskin led the Skippers with two goals each.

Minnetonka's Ava Rajala (27) carries the ball up field, under the reach of defender Jane Kuehl (11).  Rajala scored two goals in the game and leads the Skippers scoring with 31 goals and 38 points. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Minnetonka's Ava Rajala (27) carries the ball to the net under the reach of defender Jane Kuehl (11). Rajala scored two goals in the game and leads the Skippers scoring with 31 goals and 38 points. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

The MN Lacrosse Hub polls are for entertainment purposes only. 

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