Thief River Falls at Minnetonka
7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4

The Skippers’ 15-player roster features nine seniors, including seven who are listed as forwards.

Presley Norby headlines the group and leads the team with 10 goals. She is a Wisconsin commit who won a world championship with the U.S. Under-18 National Team and was a member of the U.S. Women’s National team that won the Four Nations Cup title in November by defeating Canada 3-2 in overtime.

The No. 2-2A Skippers’ roster also includes Minnesota recruit Kippin Keller, Penn State commit Katie McMillan and St. Cloud State commit Emma Bigham. Keller has three goals and 10 assists while McMillan (3-8-11) and Bigham (6-1-7) help make Minnetonka (6-0) one of the deepest teams in the state.

For a program that has continually developed Division I-caliber defenders, having a high-powered forward group is somewhat of a novelty for the Skippers. However, one goal remains for the group — a state title.

Thief River Falls enters the game as the defending Class 1A state champion, the school's first title in any sport since 1956.

The No. 2-1A Prowlers graduated goalie Frances Marshall (26-1-3, 0.84, .954) and leading scorer Emily Bergland (32-34-66), but return several players capable of filling the roles.

Kora Torkelson, who had three goals and two assists in last year’s state tournament, has seven goals and six assists in six games this season. 

Madison Poole and Jaimee Nelson each have five goals while Bemidji State recruit Briana Jorde, an All-Tournament Team defender last year, has three goals and seven assists.

Goalie Mariah Nelson has posted a 5-1 record with 1.17 goals-against average and .899 save percentage.

The Prowlers (5-1, 2-1) lost their first game of the season on Nov. 24, falling to No. 13-2A Roseau 4-3. But they face the season's biggest challenge this week with the game against the Skippers sandwiched between matchups with No. 6-1A East Grand Forks on Dec. 1 and at No. 5-2A Eden Prairie on Dec. 5. The team travels to No. 5-1A Warroad on Dec. 8 as well.

Minnetonka won last year’s meeting 4-0 in Thief River Falls.