No matter what Edina tried, it could not figure out how to get past Buffalo goaltender Kendra Carlson. The Hornets battered Carlson with 29 shots in the first two periods of Thursday’s Class 2A quarterfinal, and the quick, agile senior turned away every one.
Their task grew more urgent when Buffalo scored early in the third period to take a 1-0 lead. But Edina kept its wits. Freshman Emily Oden ended the drought with a pair of power-play goals — including the winner with 54.4 seconds left — to lift the Hornets (21-7-1) to a 3-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center. Oden tied the game with a goal from the left circle at three minutes, 32 seconds of the third period, and she got open in front of the net to score the winner.
Buffalo (21-8-0) was outshot 40-18, but Carlson kept it in the game with her superb play. Edina center Taylor Williamson, who was stopped 10 times by Carlson, had high praise for the goalie — and for the Hornets’ tenacity.
“That goaltender played an unbelievable game,’’ said Williamson, the Star Tribune’s Metro Player of the Year and a Ms. Hockey finalist. “What it goes down to is sticking to the game plan, finding your teammates and doing everything you can to find a way to get it in the back of the net.’’
Buffalo broke a 0-0 tie when Abby Halluska scored 51 seconds into the third period.
Edina attempted 73 shots to the Bison’s 27.
After spotting Buffalo a 1-0 lead, Edina scored three goals in the final 13 minutes, 28 seconds — including Emily Oden’s game-winner with 54.4 seconds left — to defeat the Bison 3-1 Thursday in a Class 2A quarterfinal at Xcel Energy Center.
Oden scored on a power play off a feed from Lolita Fidler, who plucked an errant shot off the end boards and found Oden in the slot. Edina (21-7-1) added an empty-net goal in the final seconds. The Hornets outshot Buffalo 40-18.
Buffalo (21-8) took a 1-0 lead 51 seconds into the third period as Abby Halluska eluded the Edina defense in the left circle and slipped a shot just inside the left goalpost. The Hornets tied it less than three minutes later, on Oden’s shot from the left circle at 3:32.
Buffalo goaltender Kendra Carlson kept her team in the game, stopping 37 shots and withstanding heavy Edina pressure throughout. As the Hornets contained play to the Buffalo end for long stretches, the quick and agile Carlson made several outstanding saves, while her teammates helped by blocking shots and clearing rebounds.
Edina attempted 52 shots to the Bison’s 15 over the first two periods. Ms. Hockey finalist Taylor Williamson fired nine on net, but Carlson turned them all away. She also got some help from teammate Allison Roethke on a key sequence midway through the period. After Carlson stopped a shot by Sophie Slattery, the puck sat inches from the goal line as Slattery wrapped around the back of the net, and Roethke swept it away just before Slattery got her stick on it.