Eagan looking to defend conference, section championships
Anybody looking to reach the top in South Suburban Conference girls soccer will have to climb over teams that aren’t interested in giving way.
There are Eagan and Lakeville North, state tournament qualifiers in 2023. Then there’s Rosemount, the 2022 Class 3A state champion, and Lakeville South, which reached state the same year. Rosemount and Lakeville North are sixth and eighth in this week’s state Class 3A rankings, and Eagan was eighth in the preseason poll.
That’s what the challengers are up against.
Here’s a look at where things stand with the eight teams in the Sun Thisweek and Dakota County Tribune coverage area:
Apple Valley
Coach: Rachel Knutson.
Last season: 7-8-3 overall, 2-6-1 South Suburban Conference; reached Class 3A, Section 3 semifinals.
2024 so far: 0-2; lost to Tartan 1-0 and Simley 2-1.
Next game: at Park of Cottage Grove, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Outlook: The graduation of last year’s scoring leader – who had 14 goals and nine assists – is a tough loss, but the Eagles have a promising young offensive player in sophomore Jordyn Thies, who scored 11 goals last year. Senior Lydia Vonderhaar has played mostly in goal but also could see some time as a field player. Elizabeth Cory, part of a group of six seniors, was second on the team in assists last season with seven.
Burnsville
Coach: Callie Athey.
Last season: 0-17 overall, 0-9 conference; lost in Class 3A, Section 3 quarterfinals.
2024 so far: 0-3; lost to Park Center 3-0, Bloomington Kennedy 5-0 and Park of Cottage Grove 10-0.
Next game: at Hastings, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Outlook: The search for the first varsity victory since 2021 continues for the Blaze. They’re hoping a youthful roster (10 players sophomores or younger) can mature quickly. Top players include senior forwards Cloe Smith and Maeve Wilson, both returnees from last year’s team.
Eagan
Coach: Qassim Ilmi.
Last season: 13-4-2 overall, 7-2 conference; won South Suburban Conference and Class 3A, Section 3 championships; reached state Class 3A quarterfinals.
2024 so far: 2-1; lost to East Ridge 2-1, defeated St. Michael-Albertville 1-0 and Bloomington Jefferson 4-1.
Next game: at Lakeville North, 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5.
Outlook: With a dozen returnees from last year’s state tournament team, the Wildcats could be set up for another long postseason run. A loaded senior class that includes Ava Ligtenberg, Josie Seehafer, Courtney Bumpers, Ella Horn, Inga Julstrom, Katherine Krahn and Kylee Weisendanger leads the way. As the Wildcats defend their conference and section championships, one of their toughest competitors is likely to be Rosemount, which beat defending Class 3A champion Edina in its season opener.
Eastview
Coach: Jason Obarski.
Last season: 11-5-2 overall, 4-3-2 conference; reached Class 3A, Section 3 semifinals.
2024 so far: 0-1-1; lost to Hastings 3-2, tied Minneapolis Washburn 4-4.
Next game: at East Ridge, 5 p.m. Friday.
Outlook: The Lightning build from the goal outward with the return of both varsity keepers, Ashley Abruzzo (senior) and Eleanor Patterson (junior). Returning at forward is Sarah Pollei, who scored nine goals last season. Junior forward Ella Verkinderen is another dangerous player up front. Emma Johnson, who had nine assists in 2023, is a returning midfielder. Seniors Sophia Kachman, Claire Beck and Madeline Link lend experience on defense.
Farmington
Coach: Aaron Johnson.
Last season: 8-6-4 overall, 3-3-3 conference; reached Class 3A, Section 1 semifinals.
2024 so far: 1-0-2; defeated Northfield 5-1, tied Waconia 0-0 and Rochester Century 2-2.
Next game: at New Prague, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Outlook: The Tigers graduated most of last year’s starting lineup but return enough players with varsity experience that they’re not starting over. Sophomore Madigan McGhie is a returning defender and also scored a couple of goals last season. Forwards Gianna Carpentier (sophomore) and Vanessa Oguamanam (junior) are expected to see expanded roles on offense. The Tigers graduated everybody from last year’s team who scored more than two goals.
Lakeville North
Coach: Marco Campoverde.
Last season: 13-4-2 overall, 6-2-1 conference; won Class 3A, Section 1 championship; played in state Class 3A quarterfinals.
2024 so far: 2-0-1; defeated New Prague 1-0 and Rochester Mayo 4-1, tied Stillwater 3-3.
Next game: vs. Edina, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Outlook: Bright. The Panthers appear to have the pieces in place to compete in the South Suburban Conference and possibly return to the state tournament. Next week could be their litmus test, when they play defending state champion Edina and defending conference champion Eagan in a span of three days. North returns starting goalkeeper Payton Kropp and 2023 leading scorer Lexie Bennett. Both are seniors this year. Junior Brooke Beardsley and seniors Abby Roy and Cameron Rogge are returning defenders. Sophomore Savanna Varbanov and senior Alexa Ruppert each had two goals through the Panthers’ first two games.
Lakeville South
Coach: Olivia Mehlhorn.
Last season: 10-4-3 overall, 5-2-2 overall; reached Class 3A, Section 1 final.
2024 so far: 1-1; defeated Rochester Mayo 2-0, lost to Chanhassen 4-1.
Next game: at Woodbury, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Outlook: The Cougars started 2023 with an eight-game unbeaten streak and did it by being tough to score against; they allowed two goals in that stretch. They graduated last year’s starting goalkeeper but will build around player such as senior forward Josie Grossman, who scored six goals in 2023, and senior defenders Annie Clemens and Avery Sandmann. Senior Eden Longawa is a returning midfielder for the Cougars, who take on No. 4-ranked Woodbury next week.
Rosemount
Coach: Nels Dokken.
Last season: 9-7-2 overall, 5-3-1 conference; reached Class 3A, Section 3 final.
2024 so far: 2-1; defeated Edina 4-2 and Waconia 9-1, lost to East Ridge 1-0.
Next game: vs. Bloomington Jefferson, 5 p.m. Thursday.
Outlook: Dokken, a veteran high school and youth soccer coach, takes over as head coach of the Irish after serving as an assistant coach last year. If the Irish, who won the 2022 state championship, were looking to make an early statement in 2024, they probably accomplished that by defeating defending state champion Edina in their season opener. Kendall Grate, their leading scorer last season, scored five goals in their first three games, including a hat trick against Waconia. Other top returnees include defender Aubrey Wimberly, forward Ella Johnson, and midfielders Skylar Heimerl and Ivy Wessel. Grate and Abbey Heupel each scored two goals in Rosemount’s victory over Edina.
Mike Shaughnessy can be reached at mike.shaughnessy@apgecm.com.
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