Spencer Scott and Stillwater look to gain momentum against East Ridge after the Ponies suffered a 1-0 defeat to Woodbury last week, their first loss since 2015. Photo by Cheryl Myers, SportsEngine
Sept. 21, 2017, will be remembered as a vital day in deciding the Suburban East Conference title because of losses sustained by Stillwater and East Ridge.
The Ponies, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, lost 1-0 to Woodbury last Thursday, their first defeat since October 2015. The Raptors fell 2-1 to White Bear Lake, their third loss of the season.
The conference rivals face each other on Tuesday in our Top Game of the Week.
Despite the loss, Stillwater (9-1, 4-1) remains in first place in the conference standings, where it is tied with Roseville with 12 points. East Ridge (6-3, 3-1) is three points behind, but it has played one less conference game than the Ponies and Raiders to date, giving the Raptors an opportunity to make up ground.
This matchup features the two most recent Class 2A, Section 4 champions. Both have had success in the state tournament, too.
Last season, Stillwater beat North St. Paul for the section title and went on to win the state championship. In 2015, East Ridge defeated Stillwater in the section semifinals. The Raptors went to the state championship but lost to Anoka.
Tab over to see details on each game.