As the stress from final exams still lingered among Lakeville South's skaters prior to the opening faceoff of Monday's South Suburban Conference game at the Eagan Civic Arena, goalie Chloe Crosby confidently took her position in net.

Across the ice from the Cougars senior captain was a goalie at a different point in her high school career as freshman Ashley Larson started for the Wildcats.

But by the time the game clock expired, it was difficult to tell the two apart, especially after Lakeville South tied Eagan 2-2 in a battle between the top two teams in the league standings.

“You really have to finesse the puck past (Larson),” Cougars coach Mark Johnson said. “She is quick, controls her rebounds, and each shot, she has every angle covered.”

The Wildcats (13-4-4, 10-2-2) packed the front of the net throughout the game, making it difficult for Lakeville South (14-4-2, 12-0-2) to find clear shooting lanes.

Despite this defensive strategy, the Cougars fired a game-high 31 shots at Larson. But a penalty-filled afternoon for Lakeville South gave Eagan plenty of scoring chances. The Wildcats finished with 27 shots, many coming on the power play. 

Johnson said Crosby’s play was vital in keeping the game close.

“Chloe is a phenomenal goalie,” Johnson said. “She drives pucks out to the boards, and we can take a little bit more chances with her in net.”    

Every decent drama needs a bit of flair, and in the duel between senior and freshman goaltenders, Lakeville South senior forward Janna Haeg provided the necessary glamour by scoring both Cougar goals.  

Lakeville South, ranked No. 12 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, needed every bit of Haeg’s offense to keep in control of its conference destiny. 

The Cougars sit atop the league standings with a four-point lead over the Wildcats. Both teams have four conference games remaining, including one each against Eastview. The Lightning hold third place and trail Eagan by one point and Lakeville South by five.

Haeg's first goal came just 16 seconds into the second period as she fired a shot in the slot that sneaked past Larson and crawled into the net. It tied the game 1-1.

But the celebration was cut short as Eagan’s Taylor Luecke scored just five seconds later, giving the No. 14-2A Wildcats the lead even before Haeg’s goal was announced on the public address system.

Haeg lit the red light early in the third to pull Lakeville South even. She beat Larson with a shot that ricocheted off the goalie's leg pad and over her outstretched hand.

“When (Haeg) gets in the offensive zone, she really takes control," Crosby said. “She tends to score goals when we need her to.”

Neither team scored the rest of the game, including in overtime, sending each home with a point that could prove pivotal entering the final stretch in the chase for the league title.

The tie, however, is an improvement for Eagan, which lost at Lakeville South 3-2 on Saturday.

The two teams played back-to-back games because their earlier matchup was postponed and rescheduled for Saturday, the only available day on the team’s calendars.

Crosby said overcoming the combination of playing five games in seven days and the stress of finals is daunting, but the team continued to find ways to stay undefeated in conference play.

“(Larson) did a great job in goal today, and Eagan is a strong team,” Crosby said. “But I have a good team in front of me.”


Lakeville South goalie Chloe Crosby (31) had 25 saves for the Cougars. Photo by Cheryl Myers

First Report

Overtime wasn't enough to decide a winner between South Suburban Conference foes Eagan and Lakeville South inside Eagan Civic Arena on Monday as the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Janna Haeg scored both goals for the Cougars, ranked No. 12 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, with her second coming unassisted.

But Haeg failed to find a third as Wildcats freshman goalie Ashley Larson refused to give up another goal and finished with 29 saves to preserve the tie.

Taylor Luecke and Brooke Madsen each had a goal and Abby Barger finished with two assists for Eagan.

Lakeville South senior goalie Chloe Crosby stopped 25 of 27 shots, helping the Cougars remain in control of the league, where they sit atop the standings with a four-point lead over the Wildcats.

Spotlight Game Coverage