Park Center at North St. Paul
7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25

Park Center earned the second state berth in program history last year, and the Pirates open this season with a test that could help provide some momentum as they eye another long postseason run.

North St. Paul missed the state tournament last season, and the Polars are likely determined to keep that from happening again.

Park Center graduated just five players, including its only double-digit goal scorer Sam Moses. Despite the loss of Moses’ 16 regular-season goals, the Pirates possess plenty of experience with 11 of their 12 returners being seniors.

Fuad Tahir is Park Center's top returning scorer with five goals last fall, and the senior leads a group of three others posting multi-goal seasons. Whether Moses’ scoring is replaced by one player, or if the Pirates find a more balanced attack, their depth is expected to keep them competing with the best.

North St. Paul was the top-ranked team in Class 2A before falling to East Ridge in the Section 4 championship last year. The Polars begin this season ranked No. 2 in Class 2A thanks in part to offensive duo of Ata Claremond (36-11-83) and Gladymir “Busquets” Jeudi (11-37-59).

The Haiti natives made a splash in their first varsity campaign, as Claremond led the state in goals (30) and Jeudi recorded a state-best 37 assists during the regular season. They combined to account for more than 70 percent of the Polars' scoring, and their return makes a North St. Paul squad that graduated just three seniors a postseason contender again.