In a duel of goaltenders, third-seeded Minnetonka avoided a Class 2A quarterfinal upset Saturday with a 2-1 overtime victory over unseeded Alexandria.
Minnetonka, Andover, Eastview advance to Class 2A girls' hockey semis
March 28, 2021 at 11:20AM
Kayley Crawford scored the game-winner 2:36 into the second overtime period at Xcel Energy Center. The victory sends the Skippers to a semifinal matchup against Edina next Thursday.
Crawford scored both Minnetonka goals in the game. Her first broke a scoreless tie with 1:30 left in the second period for the 1-0 lead.
That looked like it would hold as the final score. But with 13.3 seconds left in regulation, Alexandria players crashed the net in a scramble and sophomore Ella Westlund sent a rebound into the net to tie the game.
Edina already has advanced to the semifinals after its quarterfinal opponent, Centennial, was forced out of the tournament because of COVID testing results.
Today's winners, as well as the Class 1A winners from Friday, will play in the semifinals Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center. The title games are set for Saturday.
Andover 4, Farmington 0
Andover sophomore Ella Boerger scored twice in the first period of a 4-0 Class 2A state quarterfinal victory Saturday against Farmington. Her 27 goals this season trail only Peyton Hemp for most among the defending state champion Huskies.
"She has really filled an important role," coach Melissa Volk said. "She keeps up with the other two speed-wise."
Both of Boerger's goals Saturday came on feeds from Hemp, the state's leader with 44 assists. The first Hemp pass came from behind the net into the slot. The second sprang Boerger on a rush from the neutral zone.
Eastview 1, Stillwater 0
Eastview blanked Stillwater to pull a minor upset Saturday with a 1-0 victory in the last Class 2A state tournament quarterfinal.
Junior goalie Angie Lombardi posted a 28-save shutout as No. 5-seed Eastview (15-4-2) edged No. 4 Stillwater (19-2-1). The Ponies became Lombardi's sixth shutout victim this season.
Eastview advances to play undefeated Andover, the defending state champions, in the semifinals Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.
Elsewhere on Saturday
Wrestling: Kimball Area won its first Class 1A team championship, falling behind Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie 15-0 in the first three matches before rolling to victory. Read more here.
Gymnastics: A year after moving up a class, Sartell won the Class 2A championship with a "dream team'' that included all-around champion Marley Michaud. Read more here.
Basketball: The match-ups and locations have been set for the boys' and girls' state tournaments in all four classes. See them here.
More high school coverage, including wrestling, gymnastics and basketball updates, are on our high school sports page here.
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
