Four of the top six teams in the Class 1A preseason coaches’ poll represent private schools, and the winner of this matchup between No. 3-1A St. Thomas Academy and No. 6-1A Holy Angels will no doubt loom large in the rearview mirror of top-ranked Totino-Grace and second-ranked Blake, the defending small-school state champion.
St. Thomas Academy routed St. Paul Highland Park 5-0 last Thursday and eased past St. Paul Academy 1-0 on Saturday to complete a successful first week. The Cadets (2-0, 0-0) got three goals from senior Wyatt Isaak in the opener.
Holy Angels (1-0, 0-0), led by 2018 Star Tribune All-Metro second team defender Conor O’Rourke, opened its season on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Holy Family Catholic, a Class 1A state tournament entrant last season.