Orono at Luverne
7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4

Luverne continues to expand its footprint beyond the extreme southwest corner of the state, and facing Orono might provide an example of the Cardinals’ ever-growing ambition.

Luverne enters the second full week of the season with a 2-1 record and its only blemish a 5-4 loss to No. 4-1A St. Paul Academy on Saturday.

Cardinals sophomore forward Jaxon Nelson, a Minnesota commit, already has six goals and 10 points, as does sophomore forward Declan Beers. Last year, Nelson recorded 41 goals and 42 assists.

The No. 13-1A Spartans are the only metro team Luverne will face until New Year’s Eve, when the Cardinals travel to Brooklyn Park to face Totino-Grace.

Orono has strung together two consecutive one-goal victories after falling to St. Louis Park in new head coach Mark Parrish’s debut. The Spartans dug deep to defeat No. 16-1A New Prague (5-4) and Monticello (3-2).

Through the early part of the season, senior forward David McCuskey leads the team with three goals and five points.