Woodbury girls soccer: SEC title in doubt? Royals behind five other teams in conference

Woodbury’s decade-long stranglehold on the Suburban East Conference title could be in jeopardy.

With just four games remaining on the schedule, the Royals (8-1-3 overall, 2-1-2 SEC) were in sixth place in the conference. White Bear Lake (5-0 SEC), riding an eight-game winning streak, was atop the chart, followed by Park (3-1 SEC). The Royals trailed Roseville, Stillwater and Mounds View in the race for the conference title – a distinction Woodbury has held since 2002.

A strong last two weeks, however, could put the Royals back in the mix. Woodbury faces Roseville, White Bear Lake, Hastings and Mounds View in its last four games.

Last week Woodbury found success against Forest Lake before battling to a 0-0 tie with Stillwater.

In the Sept. 18 game against Forest Lake, senior Kristina White scored a hat trick, while freshman Kim Taplin and junior Madison Gaffney both chipped in a goal apiece in the 6-0 final. Senior goalkeeper Liz Sampson and freshman Cecile Kieger combined for the shutout win.

Game statistics weren’t available for the 0-0 overtime game played Thursday, Sept. 20 at Stillwater.

Despite Woodbury’s conference record, the team remains among the highest ranked in the state. The latest coaches’ poll put Woodbury at No. 10 in Minnesota’s Class AA – just behind No. 9-ranked Park.

Woodbury played Roseville on Tuesday, Sept. 25, for its Homecoming game after the Bulletin went to press. The Royals close out the week with a Thursday, Sept. 27, game against White Bear Lake.

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