Coaches can’t score goals, or prevent them, but every so often they become the top story line. Such was the case earlier this season when Benilde-St. Margaret’s Ken Pauly and Eden Prairie’s Lee Smith each reached the 500-win plateau in a span of a few days.
As is often the case, Pauly and Smith each have top-10 ranked teams in Class 2A — Benilde-St. Margaret’s is No. 7, and Eden Prairie sits at No. 3.
Pauly’s Red Knights (14-6-2, 4-1-0) have won six straight and are finally getting consistent scoring from the likes of senior Cooper Gay (16 goals) and sophomore Adam Marshall (15 goals).
With six players committed to Division I universities, Eden Prairie (16-5-1, 6-2-0) may have the most top-end talent in the state. The Eagles, however, have gone 3-3-0 in their last six games, which includes a 3-1 stumble to Minnetonka last Saturday.
Senior Ben Steeves, with a team-best 24 goals, has provided consistent scoring, and junior Luke Mittelstadt (4 goals, 20 assists) ranks among the state’s top defensemen.