Whether a home or road win is more satisfying depends on whom you ask. The answer won't matter for St. Louis Park and Benilde-St. Margaret’s on Tuesday, when they face off in a crucial Metro West Conference matchup in their shared home — the St. Louis Park Rec Center.
Their first meeting this season ended in a 2-2 tie on Dec. 22 — Benilde-St. Margaret’s only Metro West blemish — giving both sides an added level of motivation for the rematch that could decide the league title.
The Orioles trail the Red Knights in the conference standings by two points with Tuesday's game as their final league contest of the year. They find themselves in a must-win scenario to stay in contention for the crown after falling 8-2 to conference foe Bloomington Jefferson last Saturday. St. Louis Park also finds itself needing those same Jaguars to defeat the Red Knights on Feb. 17 to secure its first Metro West title.
Benilde-St. Margaret's can clinch the title outright with a win on Tuesday or a victory at Bloomington Jefferson on Saturday.
Add the longstanding rivalry between the teams to the significance of the showdown, and Tuesday’s game has all the makings to be our featured Top Game of the Week.
St. Louis Park went unbeaten in eight consecutive games in January before a 6-5 overtime home loss to Chaska on Jan. 30. Saturday’s defeat to the Jaguars was the second league loss for the Orioles (14-7-2, 6-2-1), who look to step out of the shadow of their intracity rival.
Jonny Sorenson (20-17-37) and 12 fellow seniors aim to beat Benilde-St. Margaret’s (11-11-1, 6-0-1) for the second time in their careers — the first coming in last year's Class 2A, Section 6 playoffs.
Joe Collins (17-13-30) has posted three straight multi-point performances for the Red Knights and looks to stay productive in his program’s quest for a third Metro West title in four years.