Edina Girls Hockey Rolls to State Semis

There were moments early in Thursday’s Class AA state quarterfinal when the game looked very much in doubt. Giving up multiple scoring chances early, the Edina girls hockey team leaned heavily on goalie Maddie Dahl to give them the spark they needed to slip past Rosemount.

And every time they called on her, Dahl delivered.

The junior netminder steered away all 24 shots she faced and set the tone for Edina’s quest toward a state title in a 6-0 win over the Irish at the Xcel Energy Center. The Hornets will face Hill-Murray in the state semifinals at 6 p.m. on Friday in St. Paul.

“The game could have been totally different if she didn’t step up early on,” Edina coach Laura Slominski said. “We appreciate her every game she’s played for us.”

Dahl’s early-game heroics came at the expense of Rosemount’s fast start. The Irish, playing in their first state tournament appearance, brushed aside any jitters and climbed out to an early shot advantage.

But while Rosemount (22-6-1) had better opportunities, Edina capitalized.

It started with junior Hannah Burns finding the net 3:23 into the first period, and after Megan Armstrong beat Irish goalie Caitlin Dantzscher six minutes later, the experienced Hornets—playing in their third straight state tournament—held a 2-0 lead.

“That definitely was an important factor,” senior Sami Reber said. “Getting rolling right away. To get that first goal and to get us that extra confidence we needed.”

As the game wore on, Edina began to show the speed and aggressive play that helped them to a 25-3-1 record.

The Hornets used three power-play goals—one from Reber in the second and two from Sarah Nielsen in the third—to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Ali Austin scored midway through the third to finish all scoring. Edina went 3-for-4 on the power play in the game.

Rosemount coach Tracy Cassano if a the Irish could have capitalized on their first-period chances, it could have been a different game.

“We had all kinds of energy, a great crowd fired up for the game...we just didn’t the breaks scoring,” she said. “(Dahl) made some great saves, and that was the difference.”

Did getting involved early give Dahl a state tournament adrenaline rush?

“Definitely,” she said, laughing. “I have a great team in front of me, and I can have the confidence that they will have my back no matter what.”

For Edina, having lost the state championship game a year ago, this was step No. 1 toward earning that state title that eluded them last season.

Reber said that’s the only thing on the Hornets’ minds.

“Everyone has always dreamed about winning a state championship,” she said. “It would be the most incredible thing to go out with a win and bring home a state banner.”

GAME SUMMARY

Rosemount 0 0 0 — 0

Edina 2 1 3 — 6

Scoring — First period: 3:23 EDINA Hannah Burns (Suzie Lundeen, Liza Nessan), 9:26 EDINA Megan Armstrong (Ali Austin). Second period: 5:17 EDINA Sami Reber (Armstrong, Sarah Nielsen) PPG. Third period: 1:16 EDINA Sarah Nielsen (Christie Brauer) PPG, 4:20 EDINA Nielsen (Brauer, Reber) PPG, 7:54 EDINA Austin (unassisted). Shots on goal — ROSE 24, EDINA 30. Power plays — ROSE 0-2, EDINA 3-4. Saves — ROSE Caitlin Dantzscher 24, EDINA Maddie Dahl 24.