Mounds View at Burnsville
7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1

Burnsville returns seven starters from last year’s team that finished with a 12-6-1 record, giving the Blaze optimism they can make their third trip to the Class 2A state tournament in the past five years.

Burnsville, which finished third at state in 2013 and as runners-up in 2011, will have to navigate an ultra-competitive Class 2A, Section 3, which features four ranked teams - No. 1 and defending state champion Eagan, No. 4 Lakeville North, No. 6 Eastview and No. 8 Prior Lake.

Senior defender and team captain Erin Fugh, who missed last year due to injury, is back and leads a Burnsville roster boasting a bevy of returning seniors. Fellow captains Emily Haberlack, Kayla Johnson, Ashley St. Aubin and Ellie Soderholm give the Blaze experience in the midfield and on defense.

St. Aubin scored the lone goal for the Blaze in a 1-0 win over St. Michael-Albertville on Aug. 27, and Lauren Lafavre netted the game-winner for Burnsville in a 1-0 home victory over Edina on Aug. 29.

The Blaze gets their first test against a ranked opponent when No. 9-2A Mounds View comes to town. The Mustangs have first team all-state selection midfielder Julia Anderson and second team all-state defender Emily Nash in the lineup.

Mounds View, which finished with a 12-4-3 record, lost last year’s Class 2A, Section 5 title to Centennial 2-0. The Cougars went on to finish third in state.

Rachel Boyer scored four goals and had an assist as the Mustangs routed Champlin Park 8-2 in the season opener. Mariah Northrop finished with two goals and four assists while Anderson also had two goals in the win. Mounds View improved to 2-0 after cruising to a 10-0 win over Irondale on Aug. 29.