The opening weeks of the 2018 boys' soccer season will be an all-out sprint, with plenty of preseason heavyweights facing off in benchmark contests and conference foes aiming to pick up the first points in league play.
Defending Class 2A state champion Wayzata, ranked No. 1 in the state coaches' preseason poll, will open its Lake Conference campaign against No. 3-2A Edina and take its first steps in retaining the conference crown.
The Trojans (1-0-1) return Minnesota's 2017-18 Gatorade Player of the Year in Patrick Weah (20 goals, 15 assists last season as a sophomore), who will be looked at to provide offensive firepower and leadership after 11 players from last year's roster graduated. If Wayzata can gather momentum by picking up two wins in its two games prior to clashing with the Hornets, the Trojans will have a real chance of making an early mark on the Lake Conference and proving their state title credentials.
Edina stumbled early in the season, falling by 2-1 scores to Minneapolis Washburn (Aug. 23) and Breck (Aug. 25). The Hornets (0-2) are without the graduated Matt Lindberg and will be looking to fill the offensive void (14 goals, 10 assists) that the Class 2A Mr. Soccer award-winner posted last season.
Edina has three games to right the ship before facing top-ranked Wayzata next Tuesday. If the Hornets can nurture the growing bud of offensive promise shown by scoring goals in the first two games, our Top Game of the Week has the potential to be a hotly contested and high-scoring affair.