For the majority of this decade, Edina and Hill-Murray have been the cream of the crop in Class 2A.
Each of the past three seasons, the Hornets and Pioneers have reached the state semifinals. This streak started in 2015, when the teams met in the second round. Hill-Murray won the matchup and went on to secure its second consecutive state championship. The programs haven't squared off in postseason play since, although last season, Edina got its long-awaited state title while the Pioneers finished fourth.
This year, the teams seem poised to make it four consecutive trips to the state semifinals, and both begin the season back atop the Class 2A coaches' rankings -- with the Hornets holding the No. 1 spot and the Pioneers at No. 3.
Each will also have a better sense of the Class 2A landscape after Saturday, when Edina look to prevail in its first test of the season while Hill-Murray tries to claim a signature win in this showdown at Aldrich Arena -- our Top Game of the Week.
Edina has continued its run of excellence into this season, building a 4-0 mark that includes an impressive 7-1 victory over No. 8-1A Proctor/Hermantown last Saturday.
Hornets junior CC Bowlby scored four times in the win, raising her season total eight goals and showing the Dartmouth commit is a force to be reckoned with on the offensive end.
Hill-Murray has won three in a row after falling to No. 2-2A Blake 4-1 in the season opener on Nov. 10.
Goaltending will be key for the Pioneers (3-1) to pull the upset. Enter junior Ava Bailey, who posted a .930 save percentage and seven shutouts while amassing a 20-6-1 record last year. She made 26 saves in a 6-2 win over No. 1-1A Breck on Nov. 21, helping her start the year 2-1 with a .905 save percentage.