Alexandria goalie Amy Jost thought she had made the save, the puck resting on her pads. The referees thought otherwise and allowed St. Paul United junior Joie Phelps to knock the puck into the net, giving her team a 1-0 lead late in the first period.

Two periods later, St. Paul United goalie Catherine Johnson thought she had covered up a loose puck in the crease. This time the referees agreed, blowing the whistle -— despite video evidence that the puck came free — just before Alexandria tucked it into the net. No goal.

Those two plays, combined with some exceptional goaltending, pretty much summed up No. 3-seeded St. Paul United’s 2-0 victory.

“That happens in the game of hockey,” Alexandria coach Blair Hovel said. “The goal [Jost] gave up was laying on her pads. If the refs were quick on blowing the whistle there, we’re still playing.”

Jost had no problems with the goal. “She was there quick enough and she saw it,’’ she said. “It was a good garbage goal.”

On the other side, Johnson was certain the puck she stopped in the third period was controlled.

“I had it in the beginning, then the whistle blew. The girl kept coming and then it came out,” Johnson said. “I guess luck was on my side there.”

Both goalies played exceptionally. Jost stopped 30 of 31 shots she faced (St. Paul United got an empty-net goal from Samantha Burke with 32 seconds left for the final margin of victory). Johnson made 23 saves, stopping numerous odd-man rushes.

“This was a one-goal game with 50 shots,” St. Paul United coach Nate Mauer said. “That’s pretty impressive goaltending on both sides.”

First report

St. Paul United got a first period goal from Joie Phelps, terrific goaltending from Catherine Johnson and a short-handed, empty-net goal Samantha Burke with 32 seconds left to defeat Alexandria 2-0.

Johnson, a finalist for the Let's Play Hockey's Goaltender of the Year award, stopped 23 shots, many of them point-blank chances.

The Spartans improved to 22-5-1 and will face Warroad in Friday's semifinals. Alexandria finished the season 18-8-1. 

Check back later for more on the game.