Thursday’s match is just part of a recent trend in which the two squads annually finish at, or near the top, of the Wright County Conference standings. It’s a run that looks to continue when the schools relocate to the West Metro Conference next year.

The intensity Thursday started from the get-go from both sides, but Orono, ranked No. 6 in the Class 1A coaches’ poll, seemed to have the upper hand in the game’s opening minutes as the Spartans peppered Waconia with shots. 

But oddly enough, Orono (1-1-2, 1-0-2) scored first without even having to kick the ball into the net. The Wildcats’ keeper, senior Lucas Razidlo, ran into a defender trying to stop the ball but they both missed and watched the ball roll into the net, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.

After that hiccup, Razidlo held things down for No. 8-1A Waconia. He faced eight shots in the first half and finished with 12 saves. This is the first year he’s been relied upon as a varsity starter after sitting behind now-graduated Nate White, an all-state keeper.

“[Razidlo] is awesome,” Seim said. “He makes plays. He made some saves I thought were going in the back of the net. He’s an X factor.”

Things began to even out between the rivals as the game progressed. The even play also meant equal chances for pushes and shoves, along with a lot of choice words being exchanged. 

The physicality eventually came to a head when a Waconia player was blindsided by Orono senior Fin Rohrer. The collision left the Wildcat on the ground, and players, fans and coaches from both sides were upset and expressing their displeasure. The moment resulted in Rohrer departing from the game with a red card.

With Waconia fired up after that play, the Wildcats made an extra push in the game’s few remaining moments. The team tallied a goal in the 80th minute as Bortz drilled a shot into the net to tie the game at 1. 

“We just tell our kids to fight to the end,” Seim said. “We defended everything they threw at us. And we scored for them so we had to score for us, too.”

The final seconds drew the game to a close, with both teams leaving the field with different attitudes. Seim said after the game his team considered the match a win and posed for a photo on the Orono logo to celebrate. 

“They celebrated in our place last year — so we’re going to do it to them,” Seim said. “That’s how it goes.”

The Spartans, meanwhile, had a more dulcet tone as they quietly met after surrendering the late goal. Orono, which has now gone three consecutive matches without a win, endured the yelling from the Waconia side while hoping for a postseason rematch. A scenario that may not come to fruition this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making these regular-season matches all that more important.

“I think every match during this season is important,” said Orono coach Derek Engler. “We hope there’s a postseason and we hope we get to play them again.”