John’s Journal: New Coach, Familiar Position For Edina Girls Soccer

Almost a year ago, the Edina High School girls soccer team did not have a coach. After 11 years at the helm and 21 years overall on the coaching staff, Katie Aafedt stepped down. She led the Hornets to a Class 3A state runner-up finish in 2022 and the state championship a year ago with a record of 22-0.

Edina is back in the Class 3A state championship game this year, where the Hornets (13-1-5) will meet Wayzata (18-1-1) on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Last year Edina beat the Trojans 2-1 in the title match. Earlier this season, Edina beat Wayzata 2-1, which was the Trojans’ only defeat in 2024.

Edina’s new coach this season is Taylor Greathouse. She is a 2013 graduate of Blaine High School, where she was an all-state player. She came to Edina from the soccer coaching staff at Augsburg University. Previously, she was head coach at Minneapolis Southwest for two years.

“It's exciting,” Greathouse said after the Hornets defeated East Ridge 3-1 in Tuesday’s state semifinal. “I loved high school and I coached high school before I went to the college game. And I think in talking to Katie, I know this program has not only history in the state of Minnesota, but they are competitors.

“So you kind of get the best of both worlds of being in a position where you can empower young women to grow, pursue whatever is next in life, but also with a program that wants to compete, that can make a run at state, and has the effort and is willing to do so.”

In Tuesday’s win over East Ridge, Edina got goals from sophomore Mikaela Caverly, ninth-grader Elizabeth Conner and junior Lou Ruffien. Conner’s goal was the first of her varsity career

“To see her get her first career goal as a freshman in a huge situation, that was massive,” Greathouse said. “We were actually talking during warmups, because she was on fire in shooting. And I'm like, ‘Liz is going to score today.’ And so when she scored, I don't think I've seen our bench more excited.”

Ruffien called Greathouse “an amazing coach, truly. She just adapted to this program and has been super supportive. She's doing amazing. She's truly just super supportive and just knows her stuff.” 

Senior goalie Eleni McGuire said, “I think Taylor came in and instantly she started building connections with us. And honestly her support is unmatched, like you can always hear her cheering for us on the sidelines, and she's always going to be in our corner. She's always going to be fighting for us no matter what.”

State soccer tournament

Tuesday’s girls semifinals

Class 3A/ Wayzata 5, Eagan 0

Class 3A/ Edina 3, East Ridge 1

Class 2A/ Holy Angels 4, Orono 1

Class 2A/ Mahtomedi 7, Mankato East 0

Class 1A/ Southwest Christian 2, Esko 1

Class 1A/ Providence Academy 3, St. Charles 0

Wednesday’s boys semifinals

Class 3A/ Minneapolis Washburn vs. Eagan, 8 a.m.

Class 3A/ Maple Grove vs. Andover, 10 a.m.

Class 2A/ Holy Angels vs. Orono, 12:30 p.m.

Class 2A/ Totino-Grace vs. Blake, 2:30 p.m.

Class 1A/ St. Paul Academy vs. Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa, 5 p.m.

Class 1A/ St. Cloud Cathedral vs. Rochester Lourdes, 7 p.m.

Championship games

Friday

Girls

3A 10:15 a.m./ Wayzata vs. Edina

2A 2:45 p.m./ Holy Angels vs. Mahtomedi

1A 7:15 p.m./ Southwest Christian vs. Providence Academy

Boys 

3A 8 a.m./ 

2A 12:30 p.m./ 

1A 5 p.m./ 

--MSHSL senior content creator John Millea has been the leading voice of Minnesota high school activities for decades. Follow him on Threads at johnmilleamn and listen to "Preps Today with John Millea” wherever you get podcasts. Contact John at [email protected] or [email protected]