Skippers Advance To Sectional Girls Hockey Finals

With a 6-1 defeat of Buffalo in the Section 6AA semifinals on Wednesday night at Parade Ice Garden, the Minnetonka girls hockey team stands within one game of a berth in the state tournament as only Benilde-St. Margaret's stands between the Skippers and a trip to the Xcel Energy Center.

"I thought the girls played well tonight," Minnetonka coach Eric Johnson said.

Forward Amy Peterson got the Skippers got on the board just 86 seconds into the contest with a goal assisted by forward Laura Bowman and defender Sydney Baldwin and the top-ranked team in Class AA never looked back.

Bowman put her squad up 2-0 on a power play goal at 4:11 of the opening period, assisted by defenders Sidney Morin and Rachel Ramsey, before Baldwin extended the advantage to 3-0 with an even-strength goal at 12:23, assisted by forward Carolyn Draayer.

Ramsey closed out the frame with another Skippers' power-play tally at 16:27, assisted by Peterson and Morin.

"It always helps when you can score four times in the first period like that," Johnson said.

The onslaught didn't stop as the game progressed into the second period as forward Hadley Cookson recorded Minnetonka's fifth goal just 10 seconds into the middle stanza, assisted by Braayer and forward Kira Von Steinbergs; one final Skippers strike at 3:29 from Bowman, assisted by Baldwin, made it 6-0 in favor of the section's top seed.

That would be it for the Minnetonka offense, however, as the Skippers remained without further tally for the remainder of the contest.

The third period began in running time, due to the Minnesota State High School League's "Mercy Rule" and remained that way until 8:32 of the interval when Buffalo recorded the one goal it would get on the night.

The Bison nearly slid a few more past Minnetonka goaltender Julie Friend — who made 13 saves — in a flurry of fanatical hockey to close out the contest before the final horn blew on the Skippers' five-goal victory.

"Buffalo did well tonight," Johnson said. "They are a hard-working team that does not give up."

It's 25th win sealed, Minnetonka now faces the second-seeded and Red Knights — ranked third in Class AA — in the sectional final at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Parade.

The Skippers won 2-1 at Benilde on Saturday, Dec. 18; the Red Knights defeated Hopkins, 4-0, in the other 6AA semifinal on Wednesday.