The Minnesota State High School League girls’ lacrosse season opens Thursday April 13 with eight games on the schedule. Two teams will be making their debuts on opening day, with first-year entrant Grand/Rapids Greenway visiting Hastings and fellow newcomer Rocori hosting Monticello.

Mankato, in its second year, travels to Big 9 Conference foe Rochester Mayo Thursday, hoping to pick up a season-opening win against a Spartans team that was on the opposite side of Mankato's first-ever MSHSL victory last season.

This week also features several top-tier matchups in the metro.

Stillwater, ranked No. 3 in the Minnesota Girls' Lacrosse Coaches Association preseason poll, takes on No. 7 Edina on Friday in an early test for both teams. Farmington is on the fringe of breaking into the top 10 rankings, and a win against Section 1 foe Owatonna could be the final push the Tigers need.  

Saturday’s three-game slate features a Section 3 quarterfinal rematch between East Ridge and Rosemount as well as No. 10 Lakeville South traveling to take on No. 5 Minnetonka.

The Cougars have emerged as a yearly contender at the state tournament after making it to the past three, including a second-place finish in 2015. The Skippers have been trapped in Section 2 with Eden Prairie where they’ve fallen in the championship round to the Eagles the past six seasons.

Minnetonka would love to prove itself a state-caliber team, while Lakeville South has an opportunity to climb the rankings before many teams take the field for their first contests, making Saturday's matinee our featured Top Game of the Week.

Tab over to see details on each game.