Benilde-St. Margaret's hosts longtime rival Orono Tuesday in game featuring programs holding the last four Class 1A state titles. Both recorded early season losses, meaning this matchup has extra importance. Star Tribune photo courtesy of Aaron Lavinsky
The elite of Class 1A meet again.
Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Orono renew their rivalry Tuesday in a regular-season showdown featuring last year's state champion and runner-up and two teams with a history of trading results.
The Red Knights took the title a year ago with a 4-2 victory, while the Spartans used a 2-1 win (on penalty kicks) in the Section 6 championship two years back to help propel them to the state title.
While no longer in the same section, Benilde-St. Margaret's and Orono stoked the flames of their heated competition with many past head-to-head postseason battles, including seven matchups for the section title between 2007 and 2014.
This one promises to be played with the same intensity, although the stakes are a bit lower but still important. The Red Knights enter the game as the No. 1 team in Class 1A coaches' rankings while the Spartans are No. 2, and this clash of perennial Class 1A powers is a no-brainer for our Top Game of the Week.
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Tag(s): Girls' MSHSL IMAC Blake Minnehaha Academy Lake Eden Prairie Edina Hopkins Minnetonka Wayzata Metro East Mahtomedi Metro West Benilde-St. Margaret's Minneapolis City Minneapolis Washburn Northwest Suburban Centennial Maple Grove South Suburban Burnsville Eagan Suburban East East Ridge Mounds View Stillwater Wright County Orono