ST. PAUL-Scoring four points in the second period gave Grand Rapids the edge they needed to clinch the win over Maple Grove 6-4 Thursday night at the Class 2A State Hockey Tournament.
Eden Prairie 3, Wayzata 1
ST. PAUL-Three unanswered third-period goals gave Eden Prairie the edge to defeat Wayzata, 3-1, and advance to the Class 2A semifinals.
After a scoreless first period, the Trojans' Grant Anderson found the top right corner of the net to give Wayzata (10-18-1) the lead just 55 seconds into the second period.
The Eagles' Noah Deraney's one-timer tied the game 1-1, with 6:29 left to play in the third. Nic Leivermann's wrist shot from just above the left circle with 82 seconds remaining in the third period gave top-seeded Eden Prairie (22-4-2) their first lead of the game. Teammate Mike Sullivan hit an empty net for the Eagles, making the final 3-1 against Lake Conference rival Wayzata.
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The Trojans' senior goalie, Reid Waszczenko, led a tight defense that kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for the game's first 40 minutes. Waszczenko finished with 35 saves.
Eden Prairie will play the Maple Grove/Grand Rapids winner in Friday's 8 p.m. semifinal.
Moorhead 4, Hill-Murray 2
ST. PAUL-The Moorhead Spuds (23-3-3) won for the second time in just three weeks against Hill-Murray (19-6-4). This victory, by a 4-2 margin, propelled the Spuds into the Class 2A semifinal.
Moorhead led 1-0 after the first period on a goal by Jacob Holtgrewe 2:44 into the game. Moorhead led 4-2 after two periods as Carter Randklev and Matt Herbranson scored in a span of just 38 seconds.
Derick Breezee of Hill-Murray made it 3-2 when he beat Spuds' net minder Lance Leonard on a power play. Junior forward Jack Stetz stole the puck near the red line and evaded two defenders, scoring short-handed, giving Moorhead a 2-goal cushion that they would hold through a scoreless third period.
Hill-Murray had five power-play opportunities, but was unable to beat Leonard and the Spuds' defense.
Lakeville South 5, St. Thomas 2
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ST. PAUL-Each of Lakeville South's (19-9-1) five goals were scored by different players and nine skaters had at least one point as the Cougars defeated No. 2 seed St. Thomas Academy, 5-2 in the first 2A tournament quarterfinal game Thursday.
The Cadet's (23-5-1) peppered Cougar goalie Isaiah DiLaura with 17 shots in the first period, but DiLaura was strong and the score was tied 1-1 after the first period. Lakeville South's Jack Olson and Dawn Klein scored two goals just 47 seconds apart in the middle period to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish. Brenden McFadden scored for the Cadet's 26 seconds after Klein's goal making the score 3-2. But it was the last time they would beat DiLaura in this game. William Moore of Lakeville South provided an insurance goal at 13:34 of the final period, and Bradley Golant hit an empty net to complete the scoring and send Lakeville South into a semfinal game on Friday at 6 pm. Lakeville South will play the winner of the Hill-Murray and Moorhead quarterfinal match-up.
-- mshsl.org
