Prior Lake vs. Eagan

5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11

Defending Class 2A champion Eagan hopes to notch its first conference victory of the season against a Prior Lake team in need of a pick-me-up win.

Eagan began its South Suburban Conference schedule recording a 0-0 tie with Rosemount on Sept. 6, a shut out that displayed the team's solid defense. Through six games, the No. 3-2A Wildcats have surrendered just one goal, which was in a 4-1 win over Eden Prairie on Aug. 30.

Eagan (4-0-2, 0-0-1) also showed it can score, tallying nine goals in a shutout victory over Henry Sibley last Saturday. Julia Barger stole the show, scoring a hat trick and notching two assists in the win.

Prior Lake (1-3-1, 1-1-0) needs Katarina Decaroli to come up big against the Wildcats on Tuesday. The junior goalkeeper has 41 saves in five games and her ability to help keep the game closer could prove pivotal for a team looking to add to its win column.

The Lakers only win this year was a 1-0 defeat of Eastview on Sept. 4 in South Suburban play, and a difficult early season schedule filled with ranked opponents may be the biggest reason for a lack of victories. Prior Lake recorded a 1-1 draw with No. 3-1A Hill-Murray on Aug. 23 and lost to No. 2-2A Edina 3-2 on Aug. 28.

The schedule doesn’t seem to get any easier, either. Following Tuesday's tangle with Eagan, the Lakers go headlong into an eight-game marathon that includes four road contests against South Suburban rivals.