Wayzata coach Tony Peszneker knows games between the Trojans and their elite competition are often decided by tough players who are willing to grind it out and get dirty.

Bailee Hyde fit the bill Thursday night as the Wayzata senior midfielder scored the gaming-winning goal 17 minutes into the first half in a 2-1 victory against Eden Prairie in a Lake Conference clash at Wayzata High School.

Hyde battled her way through a sea of Eden Prairie players before burying a shot past the Eagles’ sophomore goalkeeper Lyndsey Eliasen and into the upper left corner as the Trojans (5-1-2) handed the Eagles’ (6-1-0), No. 3 in the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaching Association’s Class 2A rankings, their first loss of the season.

"Bailee is probably not the most offensively gifted player, but she is strong and most importantly, determined,” Peszneker said. "Those are the players that will get it done for you."

Hyde had to create her scoring opportunity in a game featuring few good chances, as the Eagles and the No. 7 Trojans played tough defense. Hyde’s goal, her first of the season, might not have been the prettiest, but it was effective, Peszneker said.

"We call them garbage goals, but those are the only ones you are going to get in games like these," he added.

Hyde said scoring a pretty goal isn't likely to happen against Eden Prairie, Wayzata’s long-time rival.

“We know each other pretty well, and are both great teams,” she said. “You have to be tough and grind it out, which I like to do."

Hyde is known as a tough but bubbly teammate and plays an important role for the Trojans, especially against their better competition, said Wayzata junior forward Ruby Stauber, the team's goal-scoring leader with 10.

"That is the kind of person you are going to need in these games,” Stauber said.

Hyde credits her offseason regimen for preparing her for games against some of the state’s elite high school teams. In the mornings, Hyde and her next-door neighbor go for long runs. Hyde then heads to practice, where she works on skill plays and touches.

Mix in the practice she does with her club team, and Hyde puts in a lot of work.

"We try to do a lot to get ready for the season," she said. "We have a lot of great players, and it makes a difference when you put the time in the offseason."

The Trojans don’t rely on Hyde to be one of the team’s main scorers, so she has to be opportunistic and make her own chances.

"You have to get in there and make the tough plays," she said. "That is what you need to do and I know that if I want to play and be successful, those are the plays that I have to make."

Bailee Hyde scored the game-winning goal 17 minutes into the first half to give Wayzata (5-1-2), ranked No. 7 in the Class 2A Minnesota State High School Coaching Associations' poll, a 2-1 win against No. 3 Eden Prairie (6-1-0) on Thursday night at Wayzata High School.

Wayzata's Kaylyn Billmeyer scored in the fourth minute as the Trojans took an early 1-0 lead. The Eagles' Brianna Lupo tied the game with a goal two minutes later.

The loss is Eden Prairie's first of the season while the victory helped Wayzata bounce back from its first loss of the year on Tuesday to No. 9 Hopkins.

The Trojans play their third game this week against a ranked opponent when they host No. 1 Prior Lake (8-0-0) on Saturday.

The Eagles return home for a game with Chanhassen on Saturday.

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