Lakeville North vs. Minneapolis Washburn
7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29

Lakeville North and Minneapolis Washburn seek extended state tournament runs after both exited the Class 2A playoffs early a season ago.

The Panthers fell 3-1 in a penalty-kick shootout to eventual Class 2A champion Centennial in the quarterfinals. 

Lakeville North is accustomed to postseason success, with six consecutive trips to the state tournament on its resume, but a seventh will require the team to overcome some hurdles.

Haley Steel, an all-state midfielder, returns for a Panthers team that graduated all-state players Temi Carda, Olivia Bruce and Taylor Lock. Lakeville North (0-1) started the season Aug. 26 with a 1-0 defeat to Owatonna, its first loss to the Huskies in 10 years, a span of 14 games.

A 2-1 loss to Rosemount in last year's state semifinals put Minneapolis Washburn in the third-place game, where the Millers ended their season with another 2-1 loss -- this time to Andover.

Minneapolis Washburn (1-0) opened this season on solid footing with a 1-0 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall last week. The Millers boast a heavy veteran presence with the return of Minnesota recruit Lydia Ruppert, Marli Rajacich and Charlotte DeVaughn, a Brown recruit who was named to the Fall High School Girls Soccer All-Central Region team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.