If Friday’s game-winning goal was any indication, Kelly Pannek is sure to thrill Gophers hockey fans for years to come.

Pannek, who committed to Minnesota, got the last word Friday at the Gophers’ Ridder Arena. Her late goal held up as the game winner as Benilde-St. Margaret’s vanquished three years of playoff stumbles with a 3-2 victory against Wayzata.

No. 2 seed Benilde-St. Margaret’s (25-2-1) won the Class 2A, Section 6 title and advanced to next week’s state tournament for the first time since 2008. Friday’s victory was a welcome break from three consecutive section finals losses to Minnetonka. Knocking the Skippers out in the semifinals earlier this week, while sweet, still left the Red Knights facing a hill to climb.

“That was our message; it didn’t matter unless we performed tonight,” Pannek said.

Linemate Caitlin Reilly, one of six Red Knights committed to play Division I hockey next season, lived the message. She scored electrifying goals in the first and third periods, each one giving her team a lead. She has 44 goals this season.

“She is so fast and just has the ability to get behind defenders,” Pannek said.
Those leads were short-lived, however, as Wayzata battled back to score each time. No. 4 seed Wayzata (19-7-1) knocked out No. 1 Hopkins in the semifinals and showed additional moxie in the title game.

Kaitlyn Klein’s goal tied the game 1-1 after two periods. Sophia Shaver’s goal to tie the game 2-2 in the third stirred the ghosts of section final failures in Reilly’s head.

She helped write a different ending Friday, feeding Pannek in the high slot for a goal with 2 minutes and 34 seconds to play. The teams tied 3-3 on Nov. 21, but the Red Knights prevailed in the rematch.

“I was so relieved, so glad she got that one,” Reilly said.