While Blake and Eden Prairie have slipped a bit recently from their runs as dominant state programs (they have won a combined 10 state championships), opponents would be wise not to become overconfident based solely on the losing records for both.
Blake (5-6-1) has played an incredibly difficult schedule that includes the likes of No. 2-2A Edina and Benilde-St. Margaret’s (twice). Eden Prairie (4-5-3), meanwhile, has two losses to Edina, a loss and tie against No. 5-2A Minnetonka, and a defeat to No. 3-2A Hill-Murray.
Both the Bears and Eagles will be fully battle-tested come playoff time.
Sophomores Suzy Higuchi and Elizabeth Morrison are Blake’s top scorers with 19 points each, and Morrison is the goal-scoring leader with 11. Junior Julia Blum (2 goals, 3 assists), who is a Brown commit, anchors the defense.
After starting the season with three straight losses, Eden Prairie had lost just one of its next eight games until suffering a 1-0 setback to Wayzata on Saturday.
Grace Kuipers, a senior committed to Princeton, has 10 goals this year — seven more than any other Eagles player — and 18 points, which is 12 more than any other Eagles player. Senior Molly Goergen has been stout in goal, posting a 1.62 GAA and .939 save percentage.