SSC champion Lakeville North suffers overtime upset
Apple Valley avoided an upset in the Section 2AA girls hockey semifinals, but Lakeville North did not escape that fate.
Rosemount defender Maggie Erickson scored at 7 minutes, 11 seconds of overtime as the Irish defeated top-seeded Lakeville North 4-3 on Feb. 10 at Ames Arena. In the other semifinal, No. 3-seeded Apple Valley got past Park of Cottage Grove 3-2 on Makayla Moran’s deflection with 31.1 seconds remaining.
The Irish and Eagles advanced to the Section 3AA championship game, which was played Wednesday (after this edition went to press) at Veterans Memorial Community Center in Inver Grove Heights. Rosemount was seeking a place in the state tournament for the second consecutive year, while Apple Valley was trying to reach state for the first time since 2003.
The state Class AA tournament begins Thursday, Feb. 22, at Xcel Energy Center.
Rosemount rallies
Things weren’t looking good for Rosemount when ninth-ranked Lakeville North took a 3-1 lead in the opening minute of the second period on its home ice at Ames Arena.
“We’ve been in that position so many times,” Rosemount co-head coach Jennifer Williams said. “When you play good teams, you’re going to be caught in your own end, and you’re going to be pressed hard and challenged. Our players know that even when things start to get out of control, we have to play our game and stay composed. We have some young players and older players that have already experienced these types of games, which really helps.”
Cece Hanson scored in the second period, cutting Lakeville North’s lead to one goal. The Irish got a power play in the third period and tied the game on a goal by Annalee Holzer, who leads the team with 22 goals but had been in a drought with only one since Jan. 18. Aubrey Hansen and Zoe Juncker assisted on the tying goal.
Rosemount had to skate off a penalty that extended into the overtime period. In overtime, Erickson intercepted a North breakout attempt and took off on a solo rush, scoring on a backhand. It was the sophomore’s fourth goal of the season.
“She’s fully capable of making plays like that, and she made the choice to go to the net,” Williams said. “We’re lucky to have players who can step up like that.”
Sophie Stramel scored in the first period for Rosemount. Shay Swanson, Gracie Hanson and Addie Bowlby scored for Lakeville North, which finished 22-4-1. Bowlby, who also had two assists, finished her senior season with 66 points (45 goals, 21 assists).
If the Rosemount-Apple Valley game goes to overtime it will be no surprise to the Irish, who already have played 10 overtime games. Rosemount, 13-9-5 overall, has played 10 overtime games and is 3-2-5 in extra time.
Eagles survive
Moran scored her 38th goal of the year in the final minute against Park of Cottage Grove, tipping in a shot from Lydia Vonderhaar.
The goal by their top player helped erase some unhappy memories of past section semifinals games for the Eagles, who lost at that level of the postseason six times in the last seven years.
“It’s very satisfying, but we don’t want to look backward,” Apple Valley coach Auggie Erdall said. “It’s a different team, and we want to focus on this year.
“Park played a great game. They’re significantly better than their record (9-17-1). They’re well coached and went hard. My kids had to earn everything they got. It’ll be fun to watch (on video) in about a week. Right now, it’s still too hard.”
Apple Valley was 1-0-1 in the regular season against Rosemount, its section final opponent. Rosemount, however, lost twice to Lakeville North in South Suburban Conference play before defeating the league champion Panthers in the section semifinals.
The section final “is more about enjoying the moment,” Erdall said. “If they can relax, make simple plays with the puck and move their feet, it’s going to be fun. It’s the mistakes with our hands and not going hard that cause us trouble, as they do for anyone. We’re going to try and enjoy the atmosphere but tune it out at the same time.”
Apple Valley (16-9-2) fell behind 1-0 in the first period against Park before Avery Ryan scored to tie the game. Moran scored on a power play at 10:22 of the second period, but the Eagles’ lead lasted less than one minute. It stayed 2-2 until the final minute.
Molly Hentges assisted on the first two Apple Valley goals. Eagles goalie Finley Engfer not only made 28 saves but got an assist on Moran’s second-period goal.
Section 1AA
Lakeville South reached the Section 1AA championship game the same way it succeeded in the regular season – by being difficult to score against.
Senior goalie Claire Bronson made 26 saves and earned her 13th shutout of the season as the Cougars defeated Farmington 3-0 in a section semifinal game Feb. 10 at Hasse Arena.
Lakeville South, 21-3-3 and ranked 12th in Class AA, will play eighth-ranked Northfield in the section championship game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Four Seasons Arena in Owatonna. Northfield (26-1) defeated Owatonna 2-1 in overtime to reach the section final.
Lakeville South’s Lilly Hunst, Sophia Kuhns and Brynn O’Neill scored in the Farmington game, all in the third period. Nicole McKinney assisted on all three goals. Addison Moudry made 32 saves for Farmington, which finished 17-9-1.
Bronson, who has started every Lakeville South game, made six saves in a 12-0 victory over Rochester Century/John Marshall in the first round of the section tournament. She has a 0.90 goals-against average and .962 save percentage.
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