Lakeville North vs. Lakeville South
7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5

Lakeville North and Lakeville South will face off this week for the only time this season.

Both teams suffered the same fate — a semifinal loss — in the Class 2A, Section 1 tournament last year, and this came despite a vast difference in the final South Suburban Conference standings, where the Cougars finished in ninth place. The Panthers, on the other hand, didn’t lose a single game in the 2016 regular season and went on to win the conference title. 

Lakeville North (1-1-1) hasn't had the same success to start this season. It opened 2017 with a 1-0 loss to Rochester Mayo on Aug. 24, and followed that up with a 1-1 tie against Owatonna two days later. Now, nine of the Panthers' 11 remaining games will be against South Suburban teams after coming off a week-long layoff. If they intend to stay on the right track after defeating Rochester Century 4-0 a week ago, it starts at Lakeville South on Tuesday.

The Jaguars (1-1) aim to start conference play on a positive note, so as to avoid the same fate as last season. They beat New Prague 4-1 in their season-opener but lost 2-1 to Rochester Mayo on Aug. 29. The Jaguars have a lethal duo of attackers leading the way, with Hayden McNamara and Jack Bedford, who have each scored a pair of goals.