Minnetonka coach Tracy Cassano said after Thursday's 3-2 escape of Centennial/Spring Lake Park in the Class 2A girls hockey state tournament quarterfinals, "When we play disciplined, systematic hockey, I think we're the best team in the state."
Minnetonka slips past Centennial/Spring Lake Park in girls hockey state quarterfinals
A goal in the final minute advanced the top-seeded Skippers to the semifinals.
February 24, 2023 at 2:04AM
Emotion helps, too, and Cassano noticed "a hunger, a look in Lindzi Avar's eyes of, 'I'm ready.' "
Avar's second goal of the game, this one with 42.7 seconds remaining, secured a hard-fought victory in Xcel Energy Center.
The top-seeded Skippers (26-2) found themselves in a 2-2 game with 1 minute, 14 seconds to play in regulation thanks to a goal from Centennial/Spring Lake Park eighth-grader Grace Laager.
Avar and linemates Kendra Distad and Lauren Mack didn't panic.
"Especially since we came so close to winning a state championship last year, this entire year we've had our eyes on that prize," said Avar, a junior forward who has made a verbal commitment to Cornell. "We overlooked this game. But in that moment, I said, 'We're not going to lose here. We're not going out in the quarterfinals.' "
Centennial/Spring Lake Park junior goalie Kaitlin Groess played with similar determination. On a day that started with two lopsided quarterfinals in the afternoon, Groess forced the Skippers' eight Division I-bound players to earn their semifinal appearance. She finished with 40 saves as the upset bid of the Cougars (21-7-1) fell short.
"We wouldn't have been that close with Minnetonka if she wasn't here," said Ms. Hockey Award finalist Lauren O'Hara. "She made a ton of amazing saves. She made us want to score goals and win the game for her."
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
