While thousands of Minnesotans flock to Falcon Heights Thursday for the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair, it is also the opening day for both St. Louis Park soccer teams as they travel to Hopkins to face the Royals. Here's a preview of both the boys and girls teams.
What a difference a year made for the Oriole boys team last season. In 2016, St. Louis Park won only three games, the lowest in head coach Chato's reign leading the Orioles. Last season, the Orioles increased their win total to 11 and advanced to the Section 6AA championship game, losing to the eventual state Class AA champion Wayzata Trojans. The good news is they will open their home season with a rematch against the Trojans on Saturday August 25 at 4 PM. St. Louis Park is led by seniors Zinedine Kroeten, Ben Klepfer and Nicolas Beaton. There will be a new goalkeeper this season for the Orioles since Will Phelan graduated and that means Leo Finley will patrol the Oriole goal. Can St. Louis Park survive a tough non conference schedule that also includes a September 28 home game against Eden Prairie and reclaim a share of the Metro West Conference title?
On the girls side, veteran head coach Benji Kent has a young team that fields six seniors, including his daughter Ellie. But there are 11 juniors that could help improve on last season's 10-5-2 record that ended in a loss to the Minneapolis Washburn Millers in the Section 6AA semifinals. Other seniors to watch for include co-captains Rachel Young and Anna Jennissen and also Sophia Davenport. A couple of juniors worth watching are co-captain Ava Bishop and Aliviah McClinton, who is also a member of the Oriole girls lacrosse team in the spring. One factor that might hinder St. Louis Park is the lack of goalkeeping experience since the new netminder is a freshman, Sophia Romero. She will gain valuable experience, especially in the opener against Hopkins and she could be the key to another 10+ win season. The girls also have their home opener on the 25th, hosting the Champlin Park Rebels in a 6 PM game.
That's a preview of the Oriole soccer teams. Let the games begin Thursday.
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