When Blaine’s players left their locker room Friday night with a 2-1 lead in the Class 2A, Section 5, final and waited to get onto the ice to begin the third period, they were visibly antsy.

“Everybody was so amped up, because everybody was so nervous about not getting the win,” senior forward Alisa Wolens said.

After 17 more minutes of play at Roseville Ice Arena, the Bengals tossed their gloves and helmets onto the ice and breathed a collective sigh of relief after holding off Centennial 3-2 to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2001.

“It would have been nice to hold that lead a little bit, but we made it a little suspenseful,” Blaine coach Steve Guider said.

Blaine built up a 2-0 advantage after Wolens tallied a first period goal and then assisted a power-play goal from sophomore forward Sarah Ganley in the second period.

“I saw an open lane, so I just went to the net,’’ Ganley said. “I didn’t see any backdoor so I just shot upper and it went in.”

But the Cougars wouldn’t go away. Senior defenseman Jessica Boespflug scored after a shot was deflected and floated over Blaine goaltender Makayla Tilton into the net. 

Then freshman Gabbie Hughes fired a shot past Tilton’s left shoulder to tie the score 2-2 with 12:44 left in the third period.

“Gabbie made a heck of a shot,” Guider said. “Sometimes they make a better play than what your scheme is and she did.”

Wolens tallied her third point of the night in dramatic fashion, scoring with 1:07 left. Blaine held on to earn a return to the state tournament after a 14-year absence.

“It’s been a little bit of a monkey on our back,” Guider said of the tournament. “We’ve had heartbreaking losses, one-goal games, and to come through with it was awesome.”

Jack Satzinger is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune.

When Blaine jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Centennial early in the second period, it looked like a game expected to be close would end in a blowout. But the Cougars fought back in the Class 2A, Section 5 final Friday night before the Bengals closed out a 3-2 victory at Roseville Ice Arena to advance to the state tournament.

Blaine senior Alisa Wolens scored in the first period and Bengals sophomore Sarah Ganley extended the lead to 2-0 when she scored a power-play goal less than a minute into the second period.

Despite multiple penalties, Centennial chipped away at the lead. Senior defenseman Jessica Boespflug scored midway through the second period to jumpstart the potential comeback.

With 12:44 left in the third period, Cougars freshman Gabbie Hughes fired a shot over Blaine goaltender Makayla Tilton’s left shoulder to tie the game 2-2.

Blaine regained the lead for good on another Wolens goal with 1:07 left in the third period.

Check back later for more on the game.