Blake is reeling after suffering back-to-back lopsided losses — 4-1 to Eagan and 5-1 to Eden Prairie — to start the season. Not the sort of start you would expect out of a team that owns 10 state tournament appearances, including titles in 2000 and 2011.
The bright side of the No. 7-1A Bears' (0-2, 0-0) lopsided losses? Junior midfielder Amelia Reyes found the goal against Eden Prairie when none of her other teammates could, building on a successful sophomore campaign from last season when Reyes tallied 10 goals (tied for a team's third-best) and five assists.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s, a state Class 1A semifinalist last season, slipped past Breck 4-3 in overtime in its opener before beating DeLaSalle 3-1 on Saturday. Sophomore Avery Richardson scored two goals for the No. 4-1A Red Knights (2-0, 0-0) against DeLaSalle.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s has made 12 state tournament appearances, and is something of a modern-day dynasty, winning titles in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.