The Minnesota State High School League girls hockey state tournament is in the Class 2A quarterfinal stage tonight.

Catch up on what happened in the Class 1A quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Find box scores of each game on Strib Varsity. Here is the bracket for 2A, and here is the bracket for 1A.

All games are streamed on NSPN.

Thursday’s 2A quarterfinal results

Hill-Murray 6, Lakeville North 1

Edina 6, Bemidji 4

Centennial/Spring Lake Park 7, Farmington 5

8 p.m. Andover (17-10-1) vs. Holy Family (24-3)

After one period: Holy Family 1, Andover 0

Holy Family put the puck in the net twice, though just one counted after the first play was negated on a high stick. The Fire head to the locker room with a 1-0 lead. It’s the first goal Andover has allowed this postseason.

Audrey Nichols has the goal. The Fire controlled more of the play in the period, outshooting the Huskies 13-2.

Each team is 0-for-1 on the power play.

Holy Family got on the board with 5:22 to play in the first period. Lilli DeFauw took the long shot from beyond the circles near the boards. The puck got through traffic and was tipped by Nichols on the way in for her 12th of the season.

Just before that, Andover goalie Clairebella Hills had come up with dandy saves, including a partial breakaway from Maddy Kimbrel, who took the puck into the zone from neutral ice and took a backhand shot in tight, forcing Hills to make a sprawling save to her right.

Holy Family appeared to score with 13:12 to play in the period, but upon review, the call was overturned.

After a shot down low near the goal line, the puck was initially saved and took a high bounce up in the air. DeFauw batted the puck into the net with a high stick. Officials called the play a good goal on the ice before the play was reviewed.

― Heather Rule

Centennial holds off Farmington 7-5

Centennial/Spring Lake Park and Farmington players both understood that the postseason was, at its core, about knowing what their teams were capable of, and taking what they wanted.

Entering Thursday’s quarterfinal against the Tigers, Centennial/SLP junior forward Maddie Wolter had six goals and 21 assists. The future Division I skater, committed to St. Cloud State, had mostly deferred, divvied and dished to her linemates.

“She’s sacrificed a lot,” Cougars coach Sean Molin said. “We just have a really deep team.”

But Molin had a conversation with Maddie, telling her, “I need you to go and get this one for us.”

Wolter did just that, scoring twice in a wild, eight-goal third period as the No. 2 Cougars, looking for the program’s first state title, held off the upset bid from No. 7 Farmington, 7-5.

“The goals that I got are definitely team based, and having that [postseason] motivation … just really helped,” Wolter said.

Farmington — running back last year’s state tournament roster that was heavy on freshmen, now sophomores — knew its potential, like Molin knew of Wolter. They were, clearly, no longer a “happy to be here” kind of squad.

Tigers head coach Jon Holmes told the team, at the beginning of the season, that, “We need to be open about our goals.” Humble, yes, but not ashamed of stating their ceiling out loud. Undefeated South Suburban Conference champs. The No. 1 seed in sections. A top-five seed at state.

They weren’t the latter, with the seven seed, but that didn’t daunt them from cutting the Cougars’ 6-3 lead with five minutes to play to one-goal lead, before an eventual late empty netter. The “heart attack special,” Molin called it.

“Knowing we were coming into another big game this year [after facing Edina last year], we came really prepared at that,” Farmington sophomore forward Taylor Risch said. “We’ve been so prepared to have games like these.”

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Pregame: No. 6 Andover vs. No. 3 Holy Family

The last Class 2A quarterfinal of the day sets up the No. 6 seed Andover Huskies and No. 3 seed Holy Family Catholic Fire. Both teams return from last year’s state tournament, with Holy Family taking third place and Andover winning the consolation bracket.

These two teams did not face each other in the regular season.

The Huskies are making their ninth consecutive trip to the tournament, with championships in 2020 and 2022. They were also the low seed in the quarterfinal last year, losing to eventual champ Hill-Murray.

Andover’s leading scorer is Julia Gerdes with 16 goals and 36 points. The program has had many solid defenders in recent years, and defender Taylor Schreifels (14 goals, 11 assists) and senior Icelyn Larson (10 goals, 14 assists) continue the tradition of good production from the blue line.

Holy Family returns to state after once again knocking off section rival Minnetonka in an overtime section final. Last year was the Fire’s only trip to state in program history.

The Fire are led by senior winger Maddy Kimbrel with her 35 goals and 54 points, including 16 power-play points. Sophomore Allie DeFauw and freshman Audrey Nichols are tied for second on the team in scoring with 38 points each. Nichols leads the team with 12 power-play assists. Senior goalie Kayla Swartout has a 1.55 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.

In special teams season stats: Holy Family’s power play scores at a 32.5% rate, while Andover’s power play is just 17.6%.

The winner will face Centennial/Spring Lake Park in Friday’s last semifinal.

― Heather Rule

Final: Centennial/Spring Lake Park 7, Farmington 5

The Cougars clinched it with the empty netter from senior forward Lillian Renslow with 17.4 seconds to play.

What a treat for the fans that made the trip to St. Paul. This one didn’t look like your stereotypical 2-7 seed matchup. Farmington stayed fiesty, clawing back from a 6-3 third-period deficit. Faceoffs were even at 34-34, and the Cougars had the slight edge in shots, 29-25.

A quartet of players picked up two goal performances: Jenna Golblirsch and Taylor Risch for Farmington, and Maddie Wolter and Alaina Gnetz for Centennial/Spring Lake Park.

The Cougars get the winner of No. 3 Holy Family and No. 6 Andover, up next.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Third period: Centennial/Spring Lake Park 6, Farmington 5

The 10-goal total that Edina and Bemidji put up in today’s 1 p.m. quarterfinal would only stand as the highest-scoring game of this tournament for a few hours.

Farmington scored two quick goals to make it a game down the stretch.

The Goblirsch twins get assists to set up sophomore Taylor Risch, who pokes in the puck near post past Weiland. Then, Amelia Goblirsch gets a power play goal less than a minute later.

With 2:34 to play — it’s a game! (Though, when hasn’t it been?)

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Third period: Centennial/Spring Lake Park 6, Farmington 3

This time, Cougars won’t let the Tigers get back in this one easily.

St. Cloud State-bound junior Maddie Wolter’s been clutch for the Cougars, her second third-period goal coming with under six minutes to play, fed from a turnover created by senior Ella Perreault.

Wolter’s got a quarter of her eight goals this season in the third period of a single state tournament game.

Then, freshman Josie Kelzenberg pounced on a back door rebound off Mia Sutch’s chance at goal to give the Cougars a half-dozen.

Cassidy Hettesheimer

Third period: Centennial/Spring Lake Park 4, Farmington 3

And just like that, Farmington comes back fighting. Again, it’s sophomore Jenna Goblirsch, finding Lexi Giller deep in the offensive zone, before Giller slings it back to Goblirsch for a back-post one-timer with 11 minutes to play.— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Third period: Centennial/Spring Lake Park 4, Farmington 2

And with a quick start to the third, the Cougars retook an emphatic lead behind, first, a goal from St. Cloud State commit Maddie Wolter, who got a soft deflection off a look from Grace Laager from the right boards, slipping the puck in near post past Underwood. Then, Minnesota Duluth commit Alaina Gnetz netted her second goal of the game, assisted by Melanie Raff and Grace Laager, 90 seconds later.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

After two periods: Farmington 2, Centennial/Spring Lake Park 2

The second frame of this quarterfinal certainly slowed down before Tiger forward Taylor Risch and Cougars defender Annabelle Buccicone traded goals less than a minute apart.

Each team killed one penalty in the second, and shots were even, 6-6, and 18-16 overall in Centennial/Spring Lake Park’s favor.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Second period: Farmington 2, Centennial/Spring Lake Park 2

In the Tigers’ regular season loss to Centennial/Spring Lake Park, they took a 1-0 lead 51 seconds into the game. Here, with more at stake, they took a 2-1 lead 11:54 into the second period as Norah Kratz found Jenna Goblirsch behind the net, who dropped a pass to Taylor Risch to bury a close-range chance.

But the Cougars would answer less than a minute later with some nice stick work and goal from sophomore defender Annabelle Buccicone, who scored twice in her team’s 4-1 section title game win over Maple Grove. Assists to Ella Perreault and Madeline Wolter.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

End of one: Centennial/Spring Lake Park 1, Farmington 1

The Tigers got their bite back with slightly less than 90 seconds to play in the period.

Farmington sophomore Taylor Risch’s initial shot rang off the left pipe, and sophomore Jenna Goblirsch put away the rebound from the edge of the crease for her 24th goal of the year.

That’s a big momentum get for the Tigers, not wanting to give up a late first-period lead like we saw in our first quarterfinal today between Hill-Murray and Lakeville North. Shots are 12-10 in the Cougars’ favor.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

First period: Centennial/Spring Lake Park 1, Farmington 0

Farmington has had its share of early chances, but these early rushes by Centennial/Spring Lake Park have looked dangerous and paid off just over 11 minutes in.

Senior Alaina Gnetz netted her team-high 34th goal of the year carrying the puck into the offensive zone at 11:09 and tucking a shot to the right of goalie Makenna Underwood, who had just made a big pad save on a similar rush from sophomore Mia Sutch.

The Cougars’ 5.82 goals per game are good for second in the state, but just last night, we watched Mankato East (6 goals per game) outshoot Blake 49-23 but fall 2-1 to the Bears in the Class 1A quarterfinals.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Pregame: No. 2 Centennial/Spring Lake Park vs No. 7 Farmington

Centennial/Spring Lake Park was the No. 2 seed in last year’s Class 2A state tournament. This year’s Cougars will be hoping that’s where the similarities with 2025 end.

The Cougars (24-3-1) are back at state for the second year in a row, and the third time since the start of the decade. Centennial, prior to its co-op with its north-metro neighbor, finished runner-up in 2018.

Last February, Rosemount pulled off the rare No. 7-seed upset, beating Centennial/Spring Lake Park 3-2 despite a two-goal effort from now-junior Grace Laager, a Boston College commit.

Much of that talented Cougars team returned, albeit minus last season’s state assist leader Teagan Kulenkamp.

This year’s squad returned Mia Sutch, who leads the team with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) and who only continued to rise as a sophomore. Wisconsin-River Falls commit Katie Ball is one of the top senior defenders in the state. They’ve got junior forward Maddie Wolter headed to St. Cloud State, and Mercyhurst-bound junior Kaia Weiland in net.

Take the Cougars’ continued depth, and add All-Minnesota forward and Minnesota Duluth commit Alaina Gnetz as a senior transfer from Woodbury (33 goals, 20 assists), and boom, they’re a state title contender.

Farmington (22-4-1) has all the right ingredients to pull off an upset — a more experienced version of their 2025 selves, like the Cougars. Last year, as a No. 8 seed making their first trip to state since 2021, the young Tigers held top-seeded Edina to a 3-1 quarterfinal, and that was with a empty netter as Farmington searched for the late equalizer.

Sophomore twin forwards Jenna and Amelia Goblirsch have a combined 86 points for the Tigers. Sophomore Taylor Risch has tallied 37, and sophomore Payton Blom, 35. The ascension from freshmen making their debut at state to battle-tested sophomores has taken less than 12 months.

Senior goaltender Makena Underwood, a St. Michael’s commit, backstops the young group in goal, with a .922 save percentage and 1.71 goals against average.

These teams met once this year already, a 4-1 Centennial/Spring Lake Park win on Jan. 10. The winner of this quarterfinal will face the squad that makes it out of the 8 p.m. matchup between No. 3 Holy Family and No. 6 Andover.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Moorhead girls hockey coach Ryan Kraft resigns

Moorhead Spuds head coach Ryan Kraft has announced he is stepping down from the program after seven years leading the Class 2A team.

Read more here.

Edina’s state experience showed on the big stage

When Edina captain Lorelai Nelson secured a hat trick as she kicked the puck into Bemidji’s net with just a minute left in the second period, the Ms. Hockey finalist showed she’s no stranger to goal scoring on Grand Casino Arena ice.

After five seasons and five consecutive trips to the state tournament, Nelson was a key figure in launching the Hornets to win 6-4 against the Lumberjacks to face Hill-Murray in the Class 2A girls hockey semifinals on Friday.

“A hat trick anytime is crazy, let alone on a big stage,” head coach Sami Cowger said. “You can expect her to compete every single day 110%. What I love the most about her hat trick is those goals that she scored just go into the net. And that’s what people don’t expect necessarily from a skilled player like Lorelai.”

“She’s played in the state tournament a few times and she knows what it takes,” Cowger added.

Cowger insisted the entire senior class knows what it takes. That was the difference maker during a tight back-and-forth quarterfinal game ending in Edina outscoring Bemidji 36-28.

The Hornets weren’t shy about the challenge the Lumberjacks brought to the ice — something Bemidji head coach Michael Johnson just calls “playing Bemidji hockey.”

“I gotta give them credit,” Edina senior defender Taylor Gardner said. “Their power play, it’s not one I’ve seen often. They move a lot and it draws us all over the place.”

With two minutes left in the third period, Bemidji’s Naomi Johnson brought the score to 5-4, with a quick follow-through that fell just shy of tying Edina. But Bemidji, which has only reached the state tournament twice in school history compared to the Hornets’ 15 prior visits, couldn’t extend their first trip to St. Paul in 19 years. With only a single-point deficit and hearts in their throats, Edina stretched the lead to 6-4 on an empty-netter.

In those final moments as the clock ticked down, it was the state tournament experience that paid off.

“We have the experience,” Cowger said. “It’s just another hockey game. We’re never too high. We’re never too low. We use our experience and just treat it like any other game, any other day. Obviously, there’s a little bit more on the line, but if we think too much about that, we’re going to start getting away from our game, and bad things are going to happen.”

— Olivia Hicks

Final: Edina 6, Bemidji 4

With nine seconds left, Edina’s Charlotte Theirl passed the puck into an empty net to advance the Hornets to the semifinals.

Edina will go on to face Hill-Murray in the Class 2A semifinals on Friday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m with the hope to get closer to turning five state titles into six.

— Olivia Hicks

3rd period: Edina 5, Bemidji 4

Bemidji found the net when it counted, with two minutes left in the period.

After Millie Knott’s shot went wide, Naomi Johnson was there with the follow through. Her quick shot emptied into the left side of Edina goalie Soren Peacock’s net.

— Olivia Hicks

3rd period: Edina 5, Bemidji 3

For the third time in this 2A quarterfinal game, the Lumberjacks immediately responded to an Edina goal.

Five minutes into the 3rd period, senior forward Megan Berg won the face off and passed the puck to Olivia Wangberg. Senior defender Taylor Bjerke picked it up from Wangberg and launched it across the ice and over the head of Edina’s goaltender.

Edina scored just two minutes later when Cate McCoy delivered an even-strength shot assisted by Hazel Schenkelberg and Brenna Prellwitz.

— Olivia Hicks

3rd period: Edina 4, Bemidji 2

Just over a minute into the third period, Edina’s Lorelai Nelson fed a pass to junior forward Audrey Davis who slapped it into the left side of the Lumberjack net.

The Hornets have recorded 31 shots on goal to Bemidji’s 19.

— Olivia Hicks

End of the 2nd: Edina 3, Bemidji 2

It’s a hat trick for Edina top-scorer Lorelai Nelson. The senior forward tipped the puck into the net, running into goalie Lily Lauer, after it bounced off her skate with just over a minute left in the period.

After the refs determined whether the goal counted as interference with the Lumberjacks goalie, Nelson was in the clear for the 3-2 lead.

— Olivia Hicks

2nd period: Edina 2, Bemidji 2

The Lumberjacks sure know how to respond.

Bailey Rupp, assisted by sophomore Naomi Johnson and junior Millie Knott, found the back of the net on the power play, with the puck slipping just past goalie Soren Peacock with four minutes left in the 2nd period.

— Olivia Hicks

2nd period: Edina 2, Bemidji 1

Edina’s Lorelai Nelson racked up her second goal of the game and 22nd of the season.

After Nelson won the face off, the puck flew to senior Cate McCoy. The forward passed it toward the Bemidji net where Nelson picked it up and delivered a backhanded shot into the left side of the net. The puck wrapped around Lily Lauer to give the Hornets a lead with six minutes left.

— Olivia Hicks

2nd period: Edina 1, Bemidji 1

The Hornets were fired up at the start of the second period. Edina kept the puck in front of the Lumberjack net for the first minute and a half of play, with four shots on goal in the first minute.

Senior defender Brenna Prellwitz offered the Hornets two solid chances that both found Lily Lauer’s glove. Freshman forward Olivia Wangberg and sophomore defender Kelli Carlson both attempted but failed to get past Bemidji’s back line.

Edina is outshooting Bemidji 9-0 in the period so far.

— Olivia Hicks

Lakeville North coach: Hill-Murray’s depth makes it “the best team we’ve faced”

Buck Kochevar is no stranger to the talent that packs into the girls hockey state tournament. The Lakeville North coach recalled a 2013 trip, losing a staggering six-overtime game against a title-winning Minnetonka team that he estimated had nine Division I players.

“Of all my years, 25 years,” he said Thursday, “this is the best team we’ve faced in the state tournament. Flat out.”

He’s not talking about that Minnetonka team. He’s talking about this year’s No. 1 seed, Hill-Murray, which beat Lakeville North 6-1 in the Class 2A quarterfinals to begin its title defense, seeking the program’s fourth state championship.

This iteration of the Pioneers has depth, speed and a high hockey IQ. At least nine Division I players seems like a safe bet. At least five are already committed to that level.

Line after line of savvy, scoring forwards means the Pioneers don’t need their defenders to light the lamp … but they can. Junior and Ohio State commit Addy McLay was the first to find the back of the net late in the first period, and sophomore defender Olivia Braunshausen opened the scoring in their three-goal second period.

Referencing stats on a roster as deep as Hill-Murray feels like the word “only” needs quotation marks. Braunshausen “only” has three goals this year. McLay, “only” four.

“We don’t ask our D to provide a ton of offense. We ask them to play D and get pucks up. Both Liv and Addy are going to play at an incredibly high level, and that’s what they’re going to do at the next level too,” Pioneers co-head coach John Pohl said.

Braunhausen, with a grin, said: “Anytime you score at a state tournament, it’s cool.”

Sophomore forward Reese Unklesbay, who is “only” sixth on the Pioneers in scoring, with 25 points, netted two goals in their quarterfinal win.

Pohl gave his perspective as to why young players might take the risk of lessening their ice time and scoring opportunities in favor of enrolling at the private Catholic school in Maplewood, with its packed roster.

His thoughts were part of what he said is likely a much longer conversation about girls hockey development, in comparison to the national club competition in sports like soccer and volleyball, and juniors in boys hockey.

“In Minnesota, you kind of see kids wanting to play together, and they want to get pushed,” Pohl said. “Without going too much on a tangent, there isn’t a ton of development outside of the high school season the way there is in other sports. And I think it is causing kids to look at high school as the development season, even though that’s not the purpose of high school athletics at all. But that’s kind of what’s happening right now, on the girl’s side.”

“What makes Addy McLay so good and Liv Braunhausen so good is every day in practice they go against Hannah Rychley, Anna Pohl, Jaycee Chatleain and vice versa, every day,” Pohl added.

End of the 1st: Edina 1, Bemidji 1

The scoreboard is 1-1 after the first period.

Bemidji captain Megan Berg was hit with a tripping penalty, but Edina wasn’t able to take advantage of the power play before Hornet junior Audrey Davis entered the box for hooking.

Lorelai Nelson nearly made the score 2-1 with two minutes left in the first period after a pass from senior Cate McCoy found her stick, but her shot went wide.

— Olivia Hicks

1st period: Bemidji 1, Edina 1

Just after Lorelai Nelson opened up scoring for the Hornets, Bemidji responded. Junior forward Emma Greiner pocketed the puck past a tangle of Lumberjacks players in front of Edina’s goal to bring the quarterfinal game to a tie.

— Olivia Hicks

1st period: Edina 1, Bemidji 0

Captain and top-scorer Lorelai Nelson’s face-off win and unsuccessful carry up the ice early in the first period gave a preview of what was to come six minutes later when senior defender Taylor Gardner slapped the puck to center ice where Nelson picked it up and dumped it past Bemidji goalie Lily Lauer.

Bemidji’s Bailey Rupp attempted to get past Edina junior goalie Soren Peacock but failed to find an empty pocket.

Edina is outshooting the Lumberjacks 9-3.

— Olivia Hicks

Pregame: Edina vs. Bemidji

Two school bands, one clad in green and the other in blue, are already tuning their instruments as the quarterfinal between No. 4 seed Edina (20-4-3) and No. 5 seed Bemidji (20-5-1) is about to begin.

It’s Edina’s 12th consecutive trip to state and 16th in school history. The Hornets, holding the No. 1 seed last year, lost in double overtime to Hill-Murray in the 2025 state championship game. This year, they’re determined to add a sixth title to the school’s trophy case. But Bemidji won’t be steamrolled. The Lumberjacks are here at state for the first time in 19 years, with just two visits in school history (2000 and 2007). The team beat Moorhead 4-3 in the section championship to skate on Grand Casino Arena ice. Bemidji — led by the state’s fourth most prolific scorer, Bailey Rupp (44 goals, 20 assists) — won’t go down easy.

— Olivia Hicks

Final: Hill-Murray 6, Lakeville North 1

A reviewed play of Reese Unklesbay’s late shot sneaking across the Panthers’ goal line gave Hill-Murray one more score for icing on the cake.

The Pioneers are one game closer to defending last year’s Class 2A championship. A three-goal second period separated a deep Hill-Murray team in this one. The Pioneers outshot Lakeville North 43-6, who stayed in it early thanks to junior goaltender Bethany Bigalke stopping the Pioneers’ first 20 shots.

If Edina advances later on, we’ll have rematches of the last two state championships in the semifinal rounds Friday: Warroad and Dodge County in 1A, and Hill-Murray and Edina in 2A. That, of course, is far from written in stone, if a really good Bemidji team has any say in the matter in our next quarterfinal.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

3rd period: Hill-Murray 5, Lakeville North 1

A reason to celebrate for the Panthers as they got on the board with 2:36 left in the third period. Eighth-grade defender Brynli Bunde picked up the neutral-zone turnover to set up junior Allie Abeln, who cut in for the boards to score her sixth goal of the year.

— Cassidy Hettesheime

3rd period: Hill-Murray 5, Lakeville North 0

After a pair of assists, junior Emily Pohl got a goal of her own with just under 10 minutes to play. Off the tee up from Jaycee Chatleain, Pohl feinted but got forced wide of the net before picking up the puck again and bouncing it in off a Lakeville North player.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

End 2nd: Hill-Murray 4, Lakeville North 0

Lakeville North had its best chances of the morning in the second period, off a Sidney Petterssen chance early and a flurry late. But on the other end of the ice, the Pioneers only got more clinical in the second frame, scoring three goals on 13 shots after going 1-for-21 in the first. The Pioneers’ depth and tournament experience have been shining through to get around the physical play and active sticks of Lakeville North.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd period: Hill-Murray 4, Lakeville North 0

What a solo effort from Pioneers sophomore forward Reese Unklesbay, who showed off her speed and stickhandling by carving a path through the Panthers d-zone and beating Lakeville North goaltender Bethany Bigalke in net for her ninth goal of the year. This scoreline is starting to reflect the shot disparity, 28-4.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

2nd period: Hill-Murray 3, Lakeville North 0

Hill-Murray’s blue line has been all over its offensive zone, adding dangerous numbers to the Pioneers’ already-deep forward crew. Sophomore defender Olivia Braunhausen, who already recorded an assist on Addy McLay’s goal, buried a shot from the high slot off a backhanded pass from Emily Pohl, behind the goal line.

Wisconsin-bound Pohl connected again with junior Gophers commit Jaycee Chatleain, minutes later, to put the Pioneers up 3-0 not yet halfway through the second period. Pohl, last year’s leading goalscorer for the Pioneers, might have found the net less often this year, but that’s because she’s been an assist machine this season and, again, today.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

End of 1st: Hill-Murray 1, Lakeville North 0

It looked like Lakeville North might bend-but-not-break into the end of a scoreless first period, but with 7.2 seconds left, Hill-Murray junior defender Addy McLay lasered a shot through traffic from the left faceoff circle to put the Pioneers ahead. That’s the Ohio State commit’s fourth goal of the season.

Lakeville North goaltender Bethany Bigalke already has a highlight reel’s worth of saves and, going back to the Panthers’ section quarterfinal, nearly put up eight consecutive periods (plus, overtime, twice) without conceding a goal. The Pioneers outshot the Panthers 21-1 in the first.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st period: Hill-Murray 0, Lakeville North 0

Still scoreless here just over halfway through the first period. Lakeville North killed one Pioneers penalty, and Panthers goalie Bigalke made a big backdoor save on Hill-Murray freshman forward Ingrid Newman. The Pioneers, rolling four lines deep, are outshooting the Panthers 10-0.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

1st period: Lakeville North 0, Hill-Murray 0

The puck has dropped!

And we’re underway with another day of quarterfinals. A couple early saves for Lakeville North junior goalie Bethany Bigalke, who will likely be called upon early and often in this one for the Panthers.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer

Pregame: Lakeville North vs. Hill-Murray

Between today’s U.S. Olympic women’s hockey gold medal game and the Class 2A girls hockey state quarterfinals, I’m ready to hear a lot of “Free Bird” played over hockey rink loudspeakers.

During Wednesday’s 1A quarterfinals, the U.S. national team’s goal celebration song was played here at Grand Casino Arena when the lamp was lit. And, of course, the formidable U.S. women take on Canada for gold today in Italy at 12:10 central time, so expect to hear some guitar shredded from across the Atlantic.

For several players in today’s 2A quarterfinals, that song might be familiar. Centennial/Spring Lake Park’s Alaina Gnetz, Bemidji’s Bailey Rupp, Hill-Murray’s Addy McLay and Emily Pohl, and Holy Family’s Katya Sander and Maddy Kimbrelall won gold with Team USA at this year’s U18 World Championships and will now compete for a Class 2A title.

The day starts with Pohl, McLay and the top-seeded Pioneers (23-3-1) taking on No. 8 Lakeville North (17-9-2, and shown below in a community sendoff on Wednesday) at 11 a.m.

We’ve dove into why the defending state champs’ line of junior forwards Pohl, Jaycee Chatleain and Elliana Engelhardt is so dangerous, but that’s far from where the Pioneers’ scoring stops. Sophomore Gwynn Skoogman has returned from a knee injury that kept her out of 17 games. Freshmen Anna Pohl and Hannah Rychley also lead the Pioneers’ scoring charge.

But if anyone knows how to grind out a tough win, it’s Lakeville North (17-9-2). The Panthers have had 15 of their 28 games decided by a goal, including 1-0 overtime wins over No. 2-seeded Rosemount and No. 1 Apple Valley in their Section 3 playoffs. Stick taps for both shutouts go to junior goaltender Bethany Bigalke, putting her at seven clean sheets this season, with a .925 save percentage.

The Panthers, making their first trip to state since 2023, are led in scoring by senior forward and Augsburg commit Sidney Petterssen’s 38 points, followed by 33 points from junior Mali Carlson. Pettersen netted the clutch double-overtime winner, her 20th goal of the season, against Apple Valley.

— Cassidy Hettesheimer