Minnetonka’s fast start put an end to Hopkins’ season.

The top-seeded Skippers scored three goals unanswered goals in the first period and cruised to a 7-3 victory over the fourth-seeded Royals in a Class 2A, Section 6 semifinal game at Parade Ice Gardens on Wednesday.

Sophomore Emma Bigham opened the scoring with goal just 17 seconds into the game.

“I just had to get out there and grind them down early and keep putting them down until the end,” Bigham said.

Minnetonka coach Eric Johnson said Bigham’s effort and enthusiasm on the first shift set the tone for the team.

It certainly did. Junior Presley Norby scored 8 minutes later, and the Skippers increased their lead to 3-0 when senior Rylie McDonell netted a goal with just over 2 minutes to play in the first.

Norby finished the night with a hat trick and one assist, while McDonnell had two goals.

Bigham said getting a fast start was Minnetonka’s game plan.

“We wanted to wear them down early and get us ahead and go from there,” she said. 

Hopkins could not convert on two power-play opportunities in the second period, and Minnetonka continued to roll as junior Kippin Keller scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway to push the Skippers’ lead to 5-0.

Hopkins mounted a rally in the third period. Royals senior Grace Bizal slipped a goal through at 5:42, and freshman Kylie Hanley scored 2 minutes later to trim the Skippers’ lead to 6-2 and force Minnetonka to call a timeout. 

During the stoppage, Johnson reminded the Skippers that they were playing one of their best -  if not their best - games of the year. And Minnetonka responded, holding Hopkins scoreless until Bizal scored with just over 1 minute to play in the game. 

Johnson said his team entered the section playoffs with one goal. 

“We came here to win this entire thing,” he said.

Neither Johnson nor Bigham would say if they prefer to play Maple Grove or Wayzata - the other teams playing in the semifinals - for the state tournament berth.

“We’ve played them both, they’re both good teams,” Bigham said.

The Skippers play the winner of the semifinal between the No. 2 seed Crimson and the No. 3 seed Trojans in the section finals on Friday at Parade Ice Garden. 

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