Andover doesn’t seem like a team poised for long postseason run.

The Huskies only have one senior in their lineup. Their starting goaltender is an eighth-grader. They entered the postseason with a sub-.500 record. And Andover lost leading scorer Michelle Holmes to a broken collarbone in late January.

Yet, these underdogs proved that adversity can be the greatest motivator as the second-seeded Huskies overcame Elk River and defeated the top-seeded Elks 5-4 in overtime to win the Class 2A, Section 7 title at Fogerty Arena in Blaine on Thursday night. 

McKenzie Sederberg scored the game-tying goal 4 minutes into the third period, and freshman forward Claire Butorac tallied the game-winner 24 seconds into overtime to send Andover (14-12-2) to the state tournament for the second consecutive season.

“I’m just trying to process everything,” Butorac said after the victory. “Obviously, I’m really happy.”

Butorac ran out of words to describe her thought process as she scored the goal. However, Sederberg, the team’s co-captain and vocal leader, provided an assist with the simplest of answers.

“You did you,” Sederberg said with laugh. 

Sederberg also assisted Butorac in the extra period, sending a pass that Butorac corralled before ripping a shot past Elk River goaltender Michaela Gould.

The goal was the second of the game for Butorac, who finished section play with three goals and three assists.

The performance helped make up for the loss of Holmes, who has become the focal point of the Huskies’ postseason motivation. The junior forward had 15 goals and 31 points before she was injured.

“We’ve gotta play all our games for Michelle,” Sederberg said. 

“Someone’s gotta step up. And we found our girl who stepped up,” Sederberg added while throwing an arm around Butorac’s shoulder. 

Andover coach Melissa Volk said she’s not surprised Butorac scored the game-winning goal.

“I know how hard she works,” Volk said. “I knew this year she’d be putting that puck in the net, especially in those big situations.”

Butorac finished the regular season with seven goals and 22 points.

Butorac was an eighth-grader and Sederberg a freshman when they helped the Huskies’ win the Class 2A state consolation championship last year, and both are mentoring another group of young players who are making an impact this season, including eighth-grader Cassidy Stumo. 

Stumo is Andover’s starting goaltender and made 21 saves in the win over Elk River. She has a .887 save percentage, a 2.67 goal against average and a 13-12-2 record this season.

One key attribute Stumo and the other team members can emulate is the effort of Sederberg, who has eight points in the postseason after scoring two goals and recording three assists against the Elks. 

“I didn’t leave anything on the table,” said Sederberg, who ended the regular season with 10 goals and 22 assists. “And that’s what you’re supposed to do in the section championship game, baby.”

Freshman forward Claire Butorac finished with two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead Andover to a 5-4 victory over Elk River in the Class 2A, Section 7 championship at Fogerty Arena in Blaine on Thursday night. 

Junior defender McKenzie Sederberg had two goals and three assists and junior forward Sidney Portner added a goal for the Huskies (14-12-2), who advanced to the state tournament for the second consecutive season. 

Butorac ended the game just 24 seconds into the extra period when streaked in on the Elks’ goal and rifled a shot from the slot that cleanly beat junior goaltender Michaela Gould. 

Butorac also had Andover’s goal of the game as she scored on the power play, snapping the puck over Gould’s shoulder to tie the game 1-1 early in the second period. 

Eighth-grade goaltender Cassidy Stumo made 21 saves for the Huskies.

Freshman defender Madison Bizal, senior forward Haley Williams, junior forward Breanna Simon and freshman forward Reilly Springman each scored a goal Elk River (20-7-1). 

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