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Girls' top games: Wayzata faces Minnetonka in potential Lake Conference shootout

By Brendan O'Brien, SportsEngine, 05/02/22, 8:00AM CDT

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May 5: The unbeaten Trojans and Skippers have two high-powered offenses to this point in the season.


Photo by SportsEngine

We task our reporters with identifying several intriguing games throughout the state to assemble our Top Games of the Week. The matchups are presented in no particular order, and when there are additional games we want to highlight, we’ll include them with brief notes.

Wayzata vs. Minnetonka

5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 5

Thursday brings a matchup between two high-flying offenses and promises to provide plenty of goals scored.

Wayzata (5-0) features a set of the state’s top scorers in midfielders Ava Score and Julia Lindahl. Score leads the attack with 22 goals with Lindahl close behind with 19. As a team, the Trojans have dominated on offense with 15 or more goals in four of their first five games.

Wayzata’s choice at goalie could be a key factor in the game. Delaney Gnos leads the team in minutes in goal but Malin Erickson has a higher save percentage (.538).

Minnetonka (4-0) figures to keep pace with the Trojans’ attack. Senior midfielder Ava Rajala (12 goals) has helped the Skippers in a few of their closer matchups to date, including a tight 11-9 victory over Lakeville North. Wayzata will be the toughest test for Minnetonka thus far and is the only team the Skippers have faced that is ranked in the top 10 of the coaches' preseason poll this season.

Both teams could enter the matchup with a winning streak on the line. Wayzata faces Eden Prairie before its date with Minnetonka, while the Skippers take on Moorhead. Minnetonka is also looking for revenge in a tough 10-9 loss in the later half of last season.


Stillwater vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

7 p.m., Tuesday, May 3

After finishing with a 14-2 record and a Suburban East Conference championship last season, Stillwater (3-1) has started 2022 on the right foot again in 2022. After losing the season opener 9-4 to defending state champion Prior Lake, the Ponies have been firing on all cylinders. On offense, Stillwater has scored at least 15 goals in their past three games, and goaltender Hannah Beard allowed two goals against Irondale and shut out East Ridge and Mounds View.

Cretin-Derham Hall (4-1), however, looks to be one of the tougher tests for Stillwater this season. While the Ponies have had stifling defense as of late, the Raiders are led by one of the top scorers in the state in senior Lucia Selander. She is tied atop the state with 23 goals and will look to find the goal against Beard and Stillwater, as she scored four goals in last year’s matchup.


Edina vs. Rosemount

1 p.m., Saturday, May 7

Saturday's showdown between Edina and Rosemount should provide fans with a postseason primer. The teams are now rivals in Section 6, and the winner should receive an advantage in seeding when section play arrives.

Rosemount won the Section 3 title last season on its way to finishing third in the state tournament, and the Irish should be considered a powerful team in its new section thanks to Ava Whelan. The senior midfielder has 21 goals and is looking to help her team reach the state championship game. Defeating the Hornets — one of five preseason top-10 teams the Irish will face throughout this regular season — could be a sign Rosemount is ready to bring home a state title.

Edina is looking to recover from a devastating end to its 2021 season. The Hornets were undefeated until falling to Prior Lake in the Section 6 championship. A key piece to Edina's near-perfect performance  — goalie Uma Corniea — returns and has been a large part of the Hornets’ success this season. She boasts a .672 save percentage and four wins on the year.

Edina defeat Rosemount 14-10 in 2021.


Other games to keep an eye on

Two Rivers/Gentry Academy vs. Mahtomedi, 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 3. Led by Jaylen Rosga (19) — one of the state's top goal scorers, Two Rivers/Gentry Academy (3-1) looks to continue its Metro East Conference title defense against Mahtomedi (1-2), a program that second in the conference standings last year.

Champlin Park vs. Andover, 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 4. Champlin Park (3-2) has plenty of offensive firepower. Lauren Schindlbeck (16 goals) leads a group of four Rebels with 10 or more goals this season. Andover (4-1) will look to goalie Eva Bock to continue her stifling defense (.671 save percentage) and slow down the Rebels' attack.


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