Edina’s Taylor Williamson said she hardly remembers one of the biggest moments of her high school career.

Williamson scored the game-winning goal in overtime to help the second-seeded Hornets secure a state tournament berth with a 4-3 victory over top-seeded Eden Prairie in the Class 2A, Section 2 championship at the Richfield Ice Arena on Friday.

“All I was thinking is get that thing back into the net,” Williamson said. “The rest is a blur.” Edina coach Laura Slominski also got caught up in the excitement.

“I almost passed out,” she said to a family member after the game.

The Hornets watched the Eagles win the section title in each of the last two seasons, and Edina was determined to keep Eden Prairie from making it three in a row.

Slominksi said she told her team to stay composed throughout the match, knowing it would be a tight competition.

And Edina nearly wrapped up the game in regulation time.

Third-period goals from Williamson and Anna Klein gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead, but the Eagles’ Lauren Boyle scored a power-play goal with 52 seconds remaining in the game to force overtime.

“I was just so proud of them and going into OT, it was anyone’s game, so I’m just so proud that they battled them,” Slominski said.

Williamson’s goal in the extra period ended the battle and secure Edina’s first trip to the state tournament since 2012.

Freshman Emily Oden was aware of the desire to end Eden Prairie’s run of state tournament appearances. 

“It just had to happen,” Oden said.

Oden helped make it happen, scoring the Hornets’ first a goal of the game to the score 1-1 midway through the second period. She finished the postseason with a goal and three assists, giving 20 goals and 32 points this season.

Williamson was a member of Edina’s last state tournament teams and said the Hornets’ return trip is a great way to cap the season. So would winning the Ms. Hockey award. Williamson is one of five finalists for the award, an honor she deserves, Slominski said.

“(Williamson has) been a special player for us over the years, but over the past few months of her senior season, I just sit and watch her in awe sometimes,” Slominski said. “She’s a great leader and great teammate."

Williamson finished the regular season with 30 goals and 20 assists for 50 points. She has committed to play for the Gophers, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather who both played for the university’s mens team.  

Edina will savor the victory and turn its focus to the state tournament tomorrow, Slominksi said.

“We pride ourselves in never looking beyond today,” she said.

Senior Taylor Williamson had two goals, including the game winner, to help send Edina on to the state tournament after the second-seeded Hornets defeated top-seeded Eden Prairie 4-3 in overtime in the Class 2A, Section 2 championship game at the Richfield Ice Arena on Friday night.

Williamson scored her first goal 5 minutes into the third period, firing a shot from the top of left faceoff circle that tie the game 2-2. Her second goal came off a rebound and sealed the win 3:48 into the extra period.

Edina held a 3-2 lead late in the final period until senior Lauren Boyle scored on the power play with 52 seconds to play to force overtime. It was her second goal of the game.

Freshman Emily Oden had a goal and an assist and sophomore Anna Klein scored a goal for Edina (20-7-1), ranked No. 5 in the Class 2A coaches poll. 

Senior Charly Dahlquist finished with a goal for No. 1-2A Eden Prairie (21-3-3). 

Sophomore Naomi Rogge and juniors Kate Rydland and Rachel Werdin each had an assist for the Eagles.

Edina (18-7-1) sophomore goalie Anna Goldstein made 33 saves. Freshman goalie Alexa Dobchuk had 24 saves for the Eagles.

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