La crosse: Blake, Benilde lead the elite

Benilde-St. Margaret's (boys) and Blake (girls) are the defending state champions, and they open the season ranked No. 1. Both teams welcome back key starters from last year's championship squads. The Red Knights are led by seniors Zachary Silvestri on defense and Taylor Topousis in the midfield. The Bears have two of the state's best in senior Hillary Crowe and junior Meghan Bauer.

Eden Prairie's boys' team would like to enter the conversation about being possible state champions once again. The Eagles were the state runners-up in 2007 and 2008 but have failed to win their section each of the past two seasons. They are led by senior twin brothers Mitch and Matt Hugdahl. Mitch is headed to Georgetown, while Matt is bound for Wittenberg (Ohio).

The Hugdahls aren't the only set of twins who will have a major impact on the upcoming season. Edina's girls' squad has three Division I recruits, headed by seniors Brooke (goalie) and Paige Jones (attack). Both are going to Northwestern.

RON HAGGSTROM

• Ben Bennett, Blake, sr. defense

• Carson Cannon, Stillwater,

sr. defense

sr. midfield

• Matt Hugdahl, Eden Prairie,

sr. attack

• Mitch Hugdahl, Eden Prairie,

sr. midfield

• George Ordway, Blake, sr. attack

• Zachary Silvestri, Benilde-

St. Margaret's, sr. defense

• Taylor Topousis, Benilde-

St. Margaret's, sr. midfield

sr. midfield

• Riley Allen, Eden Prairie, sr. defense

• Meghan Bauer, Blake, jr. midfield

• Hillary Crowe, Blake, sr. attack

• Margaret Dobesh, Edina, sr. midfield

• Christine Easton, Eden Prairie, jr. midfield

• McKenzie Johnson, Eden Prairie, soph. goalie

• Brooke Jones, Edina, sr. goalie

• Paige Jones, Edina, sr. attack

• Sammi Reiter, Stillwater, sr. attack

2. Eden Prairie

3. Eagan

4. Blake

5. Eastview

1. Blake

3. Edina

4. Stillwater