This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Minnetonka Eyes State Championship

The Skippers girls hockey team defeated Coon Rapids 4-1 on Friday, will play Edina for the Class AA state title.

This is uncharted territory for the Minnetonka girls hockey team, but the ride keeps getting sweeter and sweeter.

If it’s not enough that the Skippers appearing in the school’s first state tournament, they’re about to play for a state championship.

Led by three first-period goals and its hallmark defense holding strong, Minnetonka shut down a dangerous Coon Rapids squad 4-1 on Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in the Class AA state semifinal. The Skippers’ prize is a shot at Edina in the state title game on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And, of course, pride in knowing they’re doing something no one in blue and white has ever done before.

“It’s probably the best moment in a lot of the girls’ lives,” senior goalie Julie Friend said. “It’s the best moment of my life. It was big enough getting to state, and the fact that we’re getting to the state finals—we know it’s going to be a great game against Edina.”

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Saturday’s state title contest is against a Hornets’ squad that the Skippers (28-1-1) know all too well. Minnetonka went 1-0-1 against Edina this season, and both teams play a defensive-minded, aggressive style that mirrors one another perfectly.

Friday’s game, on the other hand, featured contrasting styles of play. The Skippers’ dominating defense was too overpowering for Coon Rapids’ trademark offense.

Led by senior Rachael Bona, who notched 57 goals this year, the Cardinals know how to find the net. But on this night Minnetonka didn’t budge, and with their three goal, first-period lead the Skippers built a hill too steep for Coon Rapids to climb.

“They’re good, and we knew they were good,” Bona said. “We didn’t start out the way we needed to start out.”

The Skippers scored two goals within the first five minutes of the game. Carolyn Draayer scored a power-play goal at the 2:53 mark, and two minutes later Paige Baldwin scored to make it 2-0. Baldwin and Draayer each notched another goal on the night, and teammate Amy Petersen assisted on three of those tallies.

“Coming out we really put it on them in the first period,” Baldwin said. “We just kind of capitalized on some loose pucks.”

But perhaps the biggest goal of the evening was Drayer’s second, which came in the second period. Skippers coach Eric Johnson said the Cardinals (24-6-0) were gaining momentum, and that score with 1:28 remaining before intermission set Coon Rapids back a notch.

“We feel fortunate they ran out of time,” Johnson said. “They’re a good team and we respect them a lot.”

That same approach will be crucial heading into Saturday’s final, said Friend, who made 14 saves on the night. A quick lead makes that dominant defense even tougher to crack.

“When we get the first couple, that’s good confidence for our forwards,” Friend said. “It starts in the back of the net, and my defense has helped me out a lot all year.” 

GAME SUMMARY

Coon Rapids 0 0 1 — 1

Minnetonka 3 1 0 — 4

Scoring — First period: 2:53 MINN Carolyn Draayer (Amy Petersen, Sidney Morin) PPG, 4:36 MINN Paige Baldwin (Petersen, Laura Bowman), 8:05 MINN Baldwin (Petersen, Ramsey). Second period: 15:31 MINN Draayer (Maggie Bazany, Ramsey). Third period: 7:17 CR Brenna Paskey (Rachael Bona, Amy Schlagel). Shots on goal — CR 24, MINN 28. Power play — CR 0-2, MINN 1-2. Saves — CR Crystal Amunrud 24, MINN Julie Friend 14.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?