Class 2A, Section 6 features three of the state's top-ranked teams, helping make it the most top-heavy field in Minnesota's large-school playoff division.
The winning team will likely have to defeat Edina, Blake, or Wayzata to earn a trip to the state tournament, and this week offers a sneak peek of what it may take to escape the difficult section with a victory as Blake goes head-to-head with Edina in a regular-season matchup that's also our Top Game of the Week.
Blake, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches' poll from Jan. 9, can take motivation from its only two losses of the season into Friday's game. The Bears fell to the Hornets 4-3 in their first meeting of the season on Nov. 13, and Blake also had a 15-game winning streak snapped in a 5-4 overtime loss to Hill-Murray on Jan. 11.
A victory over their new rival would allow Blake, which moved up to Class 2A last season, to wash away the two missteps while building confidence for a potential section showdown with Edina, which defeated the Bears 4-2 on its way to clinching last year's state championship.
A deep offense stands out as one reason why Blake (16-2, 3-0) has again climbed atop the rankings. Lily Delianedis, Adelaide Burton, Izzy Daniel and Madeline Wethington each have scored at least 15 goals in 18 games.
Edina's history of winning titles in Class 2A, Section 6 goes beyond last year's. The Hornets have won the past three titles since moving from Section 2 in 2016, and they are looking for a third straight state championship.
This is a big week of potential playoff previews for Edina (16-3, 3-0), which also faces No. 3-2A Wayzata on Tuesday.
The Hornets feature plenty of talented scorers. CC Bowlby, Annie Kuehl and Katie Davis each have 17 goals in 19 games this season.