The battle for the Lake Conference title is once again a heavyweight fight with top programs such as Wayzata, Edina and Minnetonka all jockeying for top position. Saturday's game between the Trojans and Skippers could go a long way in deciding who wins that conference crown.
Wayzata (8-0-1, 5-0) started out the season rolling with an eight-game win streak and moved to the top of the latest Class 3A coaches' poll. However, that streak came to a halt this past Saturday when the Trojans played to a 1-1 draw against No. 4-3A Woodbury.
Saturday's contest marks the second meeting between these two Lake programs. Wayzata came away with a 3-1 win in the first matchup on home turf.
The Trojans secured that win thanks to top-goal scorers Mike Orlov and Joe Highfield each finding the back of the net in the win. Orlov, a senior forward, already has five multi-goal games this season. Highfield, a senior committed to Portland University, has been a top goal-scorer from the start. He opened the season with a hat trick against Robbinsdale Armstrong.
Minnetonka (6-1-2, 2-1-2) is currently tied with Edina in the conference race for second and played to a dramatic 2-2 tie against the Hornets on Sept. 13 at home.
The No. 3-3A Skippers also have a pair of scorers in senior forward Alex Gonikman (six goals, three assists) and junior midfielder Jake Hennen (six goals, eight assists). However, neither scored in the first matchup against Wayzata and will likely need to change that if Minnetonka is going to come out on top.