Both these teams started the season with all sorts of promise.
Talk about great expectations, Gentry Academy, which went unbeaten en route to the state Class 1A title last season, demolished Duluth Denfeld 9-2 to open its season. Visions of another dominant seasons were dimmed a bit after the Stars slipped past Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper 2-1 and lost to Notre Dame (Wis.) 6-4.
That’s the lone loss for the No. 16-2A Stars (4-1-0), who are getting plenty of offense from Barrett Hall and Wes Berg (5 goals each) along with Reese Shaw (team-best 11 points). Included among their wins is a 7-3 triumph over Hudson, Wisconsin’s defending big-school state champion and the state’s No. 1-ranked team at the time.
Holy Family stunned No. 14-2A Prior Lake back on Dec. 2, a signature win for the Fire. The going hasn’t been particularly smooth since, however, with Holy Family going 1-4-0 with running-time losses to No. 4-2A Andover and No. 19-2A St. Thomas Academy. However, Saturday’s 3-0 loss to No. 9-2A Benilde-St. Margaret’s was a much more respectable showing.
Senior Nick Blood (8 goals) and junior Parker Osborne (6 goals) have handled much of the scoring for the Fire, who could really jumpstart their season with an upset win on Wednesday.