Orono's Sophie Babo, right, battles for a ball in the Spartans' game at Blake Aug. 28. Photo by Loren Nelson
Monday's game between Orono and Minneapolis Washburn has all the makings of a classic showdown.
The game features two of Class 1A's top-ranked teams and has the state's top offensive threat facing a stingy defense.
Sophie Babo is the real deal for Orono, the No. 1 team in the Minnesota High School Soccer Coaching Association's Class 1A poll. Babo is second in the state in scoring this season with 18 goals in nine games.
She has been the spark for the Spartans (7-1-1), who have been on fire since a 3-1 loss to St. Michael-Albertville on Sept. 6. Orono has scored 13 goals in three games while only allowing one.
Washburn's plan for a victory must center around stopping Babo, a feat no other team as accomplished this season.
The Spartans, however, must come up with a plan to top the Millers (8-0), who are No. 3 in the rankings. Washburn is impressive on offense and dominant on defense.
Washburn has only allowed two goals through eight games. The last time an opponent scored on the Millers was Aug. 28 in a 4-1 Washburn victory over Visitation.
This matchup features two of the state's top teams and should provide plenty of solid play, making it our Top Game of the Week.
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Tag(s): Lake Eden Prairie Edina Hopkins Minnetonka Wayzata Minneapolis City Minneapolis Washburn Holy Angels Benilde-St. Margaret's Northwest Suburban Blaine Centennial Park Center Robbinsdale Armstrong South Suburban Burnsville Eagan Suburban East Mounds View Tri-Metro Wright County Delano Orono Metro West