SLP Orioles Split With Hopkins Royals

 Friday night is the usual night that high school football is in the spotlight but in St. Louis Park it was soccer that took center stage as the Orioles hosted the Hopkins Royals with the boys on top 5-2 and the girls routed 7-1.  

In the boys game, Claudy Zua's two consecutive second half goals led the St. Louis Park Orioles to a 5-2 win over the Hopkins Royals.  

The Orioles struck first on Nick Kent's shot from the far post that landed in the net.  Zua would pick up an assist on St. Louis Park's second goal as he fed Bennett Kouame and the Orioles led by two.  An Oriole own goal would put Hopkins on the board that was credited to Elijah Peterson and St. Louis Park led 2-1 at halftime.  

Zua would score his first goal of the second half after Elijah Proost's shot was blocked and Zua picked up the lost ball and sent it toward the open net.  His second goal came on a centering pass from Kouame and the Orioles lead increased to three.  Ty Perkins would end the St. Louis Park run with a right side goal.  The Oriole bench also contributed when eighth grader Tyler Puentes lined a shot from the left side and into the goal to wrap up the scoring.  

St. Louis Park won their fourth straight game to improve their record to 4-1 and hosts the New Prague Warriors on Monday, September 20 at 7 PM.  It will also be Senior Night.  Hopkins fell to 1-6 and will host the Edina Hornets on Saturday, September 18 at 3 PM.

Now to the girls game as Bryn Etzell scored two goals to help spark a five goal first half to lead the Hopkins Royals to a 7-2 rout of the St. Louis Park Orioles.  

Avery Shaw would score first to give the Royals the early lead.  The Orioles would tie the game on Alma Beaton's lined shot but Hopkins would put the game away with four unanswered goals.  Etzell would strike twice in a :35 second span.Kate Nielsen's shot would deflect off of Oriole goalkeeper Sophia Romero and into the net and Lizzie Norman would line a shot off Romero that gave Hopkins a 5-1 halftime lead.  

The Royals would add two goals to their ledger in the second half, coming from Avery Petty and Abby Hoiska.  Beaton would score her second goal of the game with 11:22 left to conclude the scoring.  

Both teams return to action on Saturday, September 18.  Hopkins improved their record to 3-1-1 and hosts the Edina Hornets at 1 PM.  St. Louis Park, looking for their first win under first year head coach Anne Beaton fell to 0-6 and heads to Richfield for a 1 PM battle with the Spartans.