The girls soccer team prepared for their first-ever state tournament game with the support of the Hopkins student body in a mini pep rally after school on Tuesday.

After needing a double-overtime goal against Wayzata to win their section, the Royals (12-5-2) faced a tough opponent in the Eagan Wildcats (18-0-1), a team making their sixth state appearance. 

31 miles west of HHS, the Royals and Wildcats were set to go in the state quarterfinal on Oct. 21.

From the beginning, the Wildcats attacked the Royals net, but with the help of goalie Gretchen Patterson, senior, the Royals stayed in the game. 

A corner kick 10 minutes into the first half proved too much for Patterson, as the ball slipped through her hands and onto the knee of Eagan’s Margaret Harings, senior, who gave the Wildcats a early one-goal lead.

Given the aggressiveness of the Wildcats offense, the Royals were lucky to survive the first half only down one goal. 

In the second half, the Wildcats didn’t let up, as their attack once again proved too much for the Royals with a goal from Jade King, junior, coming 10 minutes into the half, this one from 18 yards out.

Down two goals against a team that had yet to lose a game, the Royals did their best to contain Eagan and do anything they could to get back into contention.

Two corner kicks that barely sailed wide of the Wildcats goal didn’t help their efforts.

With less than 10 minutes left in the match, Eagan squashed any chance of a Royals comeback with a goal from 35 yards out from Olivia Asta, senior.

When the horn sounded on the 3-0 loss, Royals fans and parents showed their final support of the 23 girls who made HHS athletic history.

After their 13th shutout of the season, Eagan will play Centennial in the state semifinals on Tuesday, Oct 28.