Brieja Parent, meet Jamie Nelson.
Introductions aren’t really necessary between two of the state’s best players, given that Forest Lake’s Parent scored the lone goal last December in a thrilling 1-0 triumph over Nelson’s high-powered Andover squad, a precursor to their meeting in a section championship (won by Andover in overtime). No doubt Nelson, a senior committed to Minnesota State Mankato, remembers those games well.
Old acquaintances will be renewed on Thursday as these top-10 ranked teams meet in our Top Game of the Week.
And while Nelson, tied for second in the state in scoring with 29 points, and Parent, a senior Minnesota Duluth commit who leads Forest Lake (6-1-0, 4-1-0) with eight goals, are outstanding individual talents, this will be more than a two-player show.
Andover, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll from Dec. 5, boasts eight players who have committed to Division I programs — almost half the Huskies’ roster. That embarrassment of riches in talent explains how Andover (9-0-0, 6-0-0) remains unblemished this season while averaging more than seven goals per game and allowing less than one.
Senior goaltender Amanda Pelkey has emerged as the primary starter for Andover, and she’s allowing just one goal per game with a .933 save percentage.
Andover beat Forest Lake 4-3 in the Class 2A, Section 7 title game last season, with Madison Kaiser recording the winning goal just 23 seconds into overtime. She’s a Minnesota commit who also returns for the Huskies.
Joining Parent among No. 8-2A Forest Lake’s four Division I commits is Rachel Golnitz, a junior headed to Colgate. Golnitz has a team-best eight assists to go with her two goals.