1 vs. 2 showdown highlights Minnesota boys schedule

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2021 Minnesota State High School Soccer League play starts Thursday with more than 120 contests set to take place among schools in the state's three classifications.</span> Here are the five matches PrepSoccer is looking forward to most as the season nears us. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>State No. 1 Wayzata vs. No. 2 Edina</strong> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Trojans will travel to the Hornets in what could be a preview of the AA State Final on opening day. Wayzata comes in at No. 1 in PrepSoccer’s preseason rankings following an outstanding 2020 season where they went 12-1-1, scoring 48 goals and only conceding three. Edina comes in as the No. 2 ranked side in the state after going 12-2-0. They were also a high-scoring side that netted 40 goals while conceding seven. </span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Hill Murray vs. White Bear Lake</strong> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hill Murray travels to White Bear Lake to open their 2021 campaign in a crossover between A and AA teams. Hill Murray is coming off a 2020 season where it went 10-2-2. The Bears are hosting their crosstown rivals for the first time since 2019 when they tied 2-2. However, White Bear’s 2020 season didn’t go according to plan, with the Bears finishing 3-8-2 and struggling at home.</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Eastview vs. Cretin Derham Hall</strong> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eastview is coming off a year where it struggled to find any consistency, going 4-5-3 while boasting a mere +4 goal differential. Cretin Derham Hall won the game between the two sides in 2020 3-2 and all five goals were scored in the second half. The Raiders had a solid season, going 8-4-2, but struggled defensively, keeping only four clean cheers in 14 matches.</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Rosemount vs State No. 4 Stillwater</strong> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Irish head to Stillwater for their first match of the year in a AA powerhouse meetup. Rosemount is coming off a season where they went 6-7-0, but it ended on a high note, giving Lakeville North a run for their money in the section playoff but eventually falling 1-0. Fourth-ranked Stillwater is coming into the year after an impressive 2020 season that saw them go 10-2-2 with a +36 goal differential. The Ponies won their section championship, capping to their impressive season.</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>St. Paul Academy vs. Holy Angels</strong> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a rematch of the 3A section semifinals, STPA heads to Holy Angels to avenge the 1-0 loss last October. The Spartan’s 2020 season saw them go 4-4-2, boasting four shutouts in 10 games. The Shiners impressive 2020 season saw them go 11-1-1, with their only loss coming against Richfield in the regular season, who they clobbered 4-1 in the 3A championship. </span></li> </ul> </li> </ul>