Maple Grove riding 11-game unbeaten streak in girls' hockey

After a 5-4 start with a new-look girls hockey team this season, Maple Grove coach Amber Hegland made some changes.

She shuffled the team's lines in practice and for their Dec. 14 game with Eden Prairie. Hegland said she wanted her squad, which graduated Ms. Hockey finalist Taylor Wente and two rotating goalies from last season's team, to recognize new ways to succeed.

"We found out who we work best with, so practice ran a lot smoother with breakouts and forechecks," senior forward Maia Martinez said.

Martinez now calls it a "breakthrough week."

Maple Grove (12-4-4) defeated Eden Prairie 1-0, starting an 11-game unbeaten streak (7-0-4) and earning the No. 6 ranking in Class 2A.

"Finally some of our systems started to click," Crimson senior defenseman Julia Pias said.

After being state title contenders in recent years, the Crimson began the season with few returners on defense and junior goalie Lucy Morgan had no varsity experience.

"Coming into the season, some of us returners were nervous because of our successes last year, and we wanted that again,'' Martinez said, "but we weren't sure how it was going to play out and everything.''

Morgan proved ready in the Nov. 11 season opener, making 17 saves in a 3-2 victory over No. 12 Minnetonka. She's only improved since and has a 1.49 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.

"If we make a mistake, she's got us," Martinez said. "She's like the same with Coco [Francis] and Bre [Blesi] last year. We know we can rely on her. She has saved us so many times."

Martinez, second on the team in scoring with 10 goals, has stepped up big, too. In a Jan. 9 game against Andover, she netted a second-period hat trick to help her team gain a 4-4 tie.

Said Pias, "It was sweet to see how she was able to capitalize on her chances."

Pias, who started the season at forward, has embraced the move to defense, starting with an early December game at Anoka. She had a 21-assist season at forward last year but has continued that part of her game with 12 assists in 20 games.

"I'm still trying to jump up and play [offense] when I can, just even get shots off from the point," Pias said.

The Maple Grove offense also has transitioned to life without Wente, who had 26 goals and 27 assists last year.

"It's just about us being a team and making sure we can all fill that big role," said Mannon McMahon, a junior forward who has committed to Minnesota Duluth.

McMahon has a team-best 17 goals and 19 assists. Senior defenseman Katie Denecke has also made an impact with eight goals and nine assists.

Maple Grove has spread the goal-scoring around. In a 3-0 victory over No. 8 Blaine, three different players scored goals.

"It was really fun to see how well we were moving the puck and how well all of our different defensive zones and offensive zone and forecheck were working," Pias said.

Despite a vastly different roster this year, Crimson players remember well how their state tournament hopes were ended last winter by Blaine in the Section 5 final. The Crimson also don't mind the underdog role this time around.

"We feel awesome because I think we know we're still in this, and we still have a chance of going to state," Martinez said.