It’s no surprise Edina’s Taylor Williamson is producing at a high rate for the Hornets considering the level of competition she’s faced after completing her junior season.

Williamson helped lead the United States Under-18 Women’s National Team to a 4-1 record and a silver medal at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in March. She notched two goals and three assists in five games and was named the U.S. Player of the Game after finishing with a team-high three points (one goal, two assists) in a 7-0 victory over Hungary.

“It was an unbelievable experience,” Williamson said. “It’s a different environment (at the national level), and it’s crazy-physical.”

Williamson has carried that scoring touch into her senior season. She is tied with Cretin-Derham Hall’s Paige Voight for the state’s scoring lead with seven goals through two games after tallying two in Edina’s 3-0 victory over Lakeville North Tuesday at Ames Arena. 

Williamson has been the Hornets’ top offensive player the last three seasons, totaling 75 goals and 61 assists since joining the varsity. She has been an All-Conference selection the last three seasons and was named to the Star Tribune's All-Metro team last year. Williamson, who committed to play for the University of Minnesota, was also an All State-Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore.

Williamson may be recognized for her scoring skills, but it’s her ability to distribute the puck that linemate Lolita Fidler appreciates.

“I love (playing with) Taylor,” Fidler said. “She can always get the puck to me, and I think we have good chemistry together.”

Fidler scored a goal and added an assist against Lakeville North. She is one of nine underclassmen that dot the Edina varsity roster and are playing important roles for the Hornets.

“We have a lot of new players on both offense and defense,” Williamson said. “Our new forwards have a ton of skill, and our new defenders have great rink vision and can move the puck really well.”

Williamson’s senior leadership is as valuable as her scoring ability with a majority of Edina’s players being sophomores and freshmen.

“It’s safe to say she’s one of our top leaders on the team,” Edina coach Laura Slominski said. “I’m so proud of the way she’s grown over the four years she’s been in our program. Not only as a player, but as a leader off the ice.”

At the core of Williamson’s leadership skills are her strong feelings about remaining with her school, despite the heightened exposure at the national level.

“Playing for your school and playing with all these girls I’ve grown up playing hockey with, it’s just as much fun,” Williamson said.

Senior forward Taylor Williamson scored two goals and assisted on another as Edina rolled to a 3-0 victory over Lakeville North in a nonconference game Tuesday at Ames Arena in Lakeville. 

Senior goaltender Shannon Petersen stopped 18 shots to earn the shutout for the Hornets (2-0-0), ranked No. 5 in The Associated Press Class 2A preseason poll. 

Williamson walked into the slot in the Lakeville North zone and ripped a wrist shot past Panthers senior goaltender Abby Cooper at the 12:27 mark of the first period to give Edina a 1-0 lead. Williamson scored on another wrist shot from close range roughly five minutes later to extend the lead to 2-0.

Freshman forward Lolita Fidler, who assisted on Williamson’s second goal, slammed a rebound past Cooper midway through the second period to increase the Hornets’ advantage. 

Cooper finished with 20 saves for Lakeville North (0-2-0), ranked No. 6.

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