By David La Vaque
With five Class 2A state girls' soccer titles since 1999, Woodbury has made its strength known to Minnesota. Now, the nation is taking notice.
The Royals are the No. 1 team in National Soccer Coaches Association of America girls' soccer poll released on Set. 15. They were tied for the top spot in the first poll on Sept. 8.
One other Minnesota team, No. 21 Edina, was ranked in the initial 25-team poll, but the Hornets dropped out. Defending state champion Woodbury is 8-0-1 so far this season and defeated five ranked opponents along the way. They'll play another ranked opponent, No. 8 Bloomington Jefferson, on Saturday.
I covered the Royals 2004 title team while at the Woodbury Bulletin, and it surprises me that five seasons later, the program has continued to rise in prominence. Not many programs enjoy such sustained dominance. We'll see what the opening of East Ridge High School does to the talent pool, however.
