Both Hill-Murray and Edina saw opportunities to score on third period power plays. Only the Pioneers converted, however, earning a 2-1 victory and chance to defend their state title.

Laura Anderson’s rebound goal with less than five minutes remaining made Edina pay for its five-minute major penalty.

“It was a great shot from the point and I turned around to see the puck and an empty net,” Anderson said. “I was hoping I wouldn’t whiff.”

Postgame laughs came easy. But Edina’s two-man advantage for the final one minute, 44 seconds of the game made the tension palpable.

Edina (21-8-1) coach Laura Slominski believed her team would tie the game and likely force overtime. But the equalizer never came.

Edina trailed 1-0 until Taylor Williamson, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, tied the game with a great individual effort. She got three chances near the Hill-Murray (24-5) goal and finished the third.

Momentum swung Hill-Murray’s way after Williamson was whistled for contact to the head and received a five-minute major penalty. Slominski grieved for all her players in loss, particularly Williamson.

“When a kid is sitting in the penalty box it’s tough on them,” Slominksi said. “But I reminded Taylor that we wouldn’t be where we are without her.”

A Hill-Murray players-only meeting earlier in the day helped create a collective focus.

“Our saying is, ‘Perfect effort,’ ” Anderson said.

Defending champion Hill-Murray edged Edina 2-1 in Friday’s semifinal. Laura Anderson’s power-play goal with less than five minutes remaining held up as the game winner.

She scored while Edina senior Taylor Williamson served a five-minute major penalty for contact to the head.

Williamson tied the game 1-1 in the second period. Hill-Murray outshot Edina 47-19.