Wayzata Trojans Shut Out SLP Orioles in Season Opener

Saturday afternoon, the St. Louis Park Boys Soccer team opened their 2021 campaign against a familiar section rival, the Wayzata Trojans.  But it was the blue and yellow clad Trojans who spoiled the Orioles season opener with a 2-0 win.  

Wayzata scored the first half's only goal when Daniel Lyadov lined a shot on the far right side of St. Louis Park goalkeeper Luis Benitez Matias and it landed in the net to put the Trojans ahead 1-0 at the half.  

Benitez played pretty solid in the net for the Orioles, making a couple of key second half saves.  A theird save wouldn't be the charm for Benitez as Alex Alberti rebounded a blocked shot and it found an open path for the ball to enter the net.  Wayzata almost went up by three late in the second half.  Kat Williams made a left side pass to Mike Orlov but Orlov's shot would go wide to the right of Benitez.  

The Trojans improved their record to 2-0 and will host the St. Michael-Albertville Trojans on Tuesday, August 31 at 5 PM.  The Orioles fell to 0-1 and will also be in action on the 31st as they head down Highway 212 to face the Chanhassen Storm, also a 5 PM start.  

Beaton Era Begins for SLP Girls Soccer With Loss to White Bear Lake Bears

 A new era began Friday afternoon for the St. Louis Park girls soccer team when Anne Beaton took over the coaching reigns after long time head coach Benji Kent retired.  Unfortunately, her maiden voyage would capsize when Lauren Eckerle scored on a penalty kick with 16:32 left in regulation time to lead the White Bear Lake Bears to a 2-1 win over the host Orioles.  

There would be good news for the Orioles in the first half as they would take the early when Alma Beaton lined the ball toward the net and it landed past the right side of Bears goalkeeper Autumn Maki.  The lead didn't last as Cami Bachmeier picked up a loose ball in the penalty area and fired it to the goal to tie the game at one.  

White Bear Lake would vault ahead in the second half as a result of a St. Louis Park foul in the penalty area and Eckerle was awarded a penalty kick.  She didn't have any trouble sending the ball to the net, putting the Bears ahead and that would be the final result.  

The game was rescheduled from Thursday due to heavy rain in the St. Louis Park area and was delayed 52 minutes due to the absence of officials.  

White Bear Lake opened their season with a record of 1-0 and returns home on Saturday, August 28 to take on the Burnsville Blaze at 1 PM.  St. Louis Park fell to 0-1 and will also be back in action on the 28th, traveling to Minneapolis Southwest for face the Lakers at 5 PM.  

Fall Sports Practice to Start on Time

 After last year's fall sports season was delayed by the pandemic,  Monday August 16 will be the opening date for practice in fall sports.  

Football, boys and girls soccer, volleyball, girls tennis, girls swimming and boys and girls cross country will have their first practices.  

Here's the opening games for St. Louis Park's fall sports teams.  

The Oriole football team begins its second campaign under head coach Jason Foster when they travel to Inver Grove Heights to face the Simley Spartans on Friday, September 3 at 7 PM.  Their home opener will be the following Friday, September 10 as the Orioles host the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars, also a 7 PM start.  

The girls tennis team opens their season on Tuesday, August 24 as they head to Plymouth to take on the Providence Academy Lions at 4 PM.  Their home opener is two days later on the 26th againstt the Chanhassen Storm at 4:15 PM.  

A new era begins in girls soccer as new head coach Anne Beaton leads the Orioles in their season opener on Thursday, August 26 as they will host the White Bear Lake Bears at 5 PM.  The boys soccer team, under the veteran leadership of Chato, also opens their season at home on Saturday the 28th, hosting the Wayzata Trojans at 1 PM.  

Also in action on the 26th,  is the girls volleyball team as they open their season under new head coach Sam Hanlon by hosting the Park Center Pirates at 7 PM.  

The girls swimming and diving teams open their season on Tuesday, August 31 at 6 PM against the Chanhassen Storm at the Pioneer Ridge Middle School.  Their home opener is Thursday, September 9 against the the Waconia Wildcats, also a 6 PM start.  

Finally, the boys and girls cross country teams will run in the Rosemount Invitational on Friday September 3.  

This season will also mark the debut of three new Metro West Conference members.  They are the Orono Spartans, the Waconia Wildcats and the New Prague Trojans.  All three came from the Wright County Conference.  

Get outside while the weather's nice and support Oriole athletics as the roads return to the state tournament.