Woodbury (7-2) has clawed its way into the Class 3A top 10, but with a few games left in the season, they will need to get past Cretin-Derham Hall (4-5-1) to continue to be seen as a top team in the state.
Cretin-Derham Hall has had a back-and-forth 2022 thus far. The longest winning streak the Raiders have been able to string together is two games, while the team currently tries to bounce back from a three-game conference skid. Cretin-Derham Hall has beaten the likes of Visitation and Holy Family, two premier teams in Class 2A and 1A, respectively, but yet to have a signature win against a Class 3A opponent. Annie Mulcahy (six goals) is the team’s top offensive option and the Raiders will lean on her throughout the rest of the season.
Woodbury was No. 9 in the Class 3A rankings on Sept. 19 and look to continue to rise as the 2022 season comes closer to the finish line. The Royals have some difficult opponents heading into the home stretch, with games against top 10 opponents like White Bear Lake and Blaine, as well as conference matchups against Forest Lake and Mounds View.
Woodbury can't afford to look past Cretin-Derham Hall early in the week. The Royals have had to battle to win most of their games this season, winning only one game by more than two goals. Kendra Schneider leads Woodbury in goals with six.
The pair of teams could also meet in the early stages of the Class 3A, Section 4 tournament. Woodbury sits third in the section, ahead of the Raiders, who are in seventh.