More and more, a rematch of last year’s state Class 2A championship game between Edina and Andover seems a certainty along the lines of death, taxes and pandemic-inspired toilet paper hoarding. It would be unwise, however, to etch that presumed title game into stone.
Several teams have the capability of elbowing their way onto the final dance ticket, most notably Minnetonka. The Skippers, ranked No. 3 in the Class 2A state coaches’ poll from Jan. 27, have defeated all of their opponents by three or more goals, shutting out two of them. How good are they? How Minnetonka (5-0-0) fares against Edina will provide a telling answer.
We do know the Skippers’ top three scorers (sophomore Grace Sadura and freshmen Lindzi Avar and Kendra Distad) aren’t included in their group of four players (seniors Hanna Baskin, Kayley Crawford, Brynn DuLac and Rory Guilday) committed to Division I colleges.
Edina (5-0-0) is having a typical, Edina-like season. Which is to say the No. 2-2A Hornets, state champions in 2017, 2018 and 2019, are ridiculously good. They have nine players committed to Division I colleges. They have four shutouts through five games. Currently, they are averaging seven goals per game.
Senior Emma Conner, a Minnesota commit, is Edina’s top scorer with 11 goals and 14 points. Fellow senior and Minnesota commit Vivian Jungels has five goals and six assists.