Game of the Week: North Girls Battle Northfield In Sectional Soccer Final

LAKEVILLE PATCH GAMES OF THE WEEK

Girls Soccer: North battles Northfield for trip to State

CHEAT SHEET

SITE:

TIME: 7 p.m. Tuesday

ON THE LINE

After a week of elimination play, it all comes down to this as top-ranked and seeded North host third seed Northfield in the Section 1AA Tournament title game. The winner heads to State, the loser receives the shallow consolation of red ribbons and a runner-up plaque.

North did not give up a goal in 1AA preliminary play, blanking eighth seed Rochester Mayo and fourth seed Owatonna to advance to the final; Northfield topped sixth seed Farmington and upset second seed Lakeville South to get to this point.

THE LAYOUT

The North girls soccer team was the lone Lakeville squad to survive the carnage of a Section 1AA semifinal Saturday that saw the Panthers boys and both South teams – all favored in their respective home contests – fall to upset.

Now, it’s up to the Panthers to save some face for Lakeville soccer as Northfield returns to town three days after eliminating the neighboring Cougars.

WHO WILL WIN:

Northfield may believe that it is destiny’s child, but North blanked the Raiders 2-0 on their own field in regular-season play on Sept. 1 and has given up just six goals this season in claiming the state’s No. 1 ranking heading into the playoffs.

This time the bus ride back to Northfield won’t be so happy as North cruises to another shutout victory to claim the 1AA championship and a spot in the state tourney.