The Edina girls’ hockey team led 1-0 late, aware the final 65 seconds could undo almost 50 minutes of near-flawless effort.

Eastview felt confident. The Lightning won the Section 3 semifinal and championship games with comeback victories in overtime. Junior forward Natalie Snodgrass scored three of those four huge goals.

The puck found her stick in a scrum near the Edina goal but no magic could she muster. No. 2 seed Edina (20-7-1) escaped with the 1-0 victory against Eastview (18-7-4) at Xcel Energy Center.

Relief filled Edina coach Laura Slominski, whose team struggled in similar situations. During a three-game stretch in January, the Hornets’ allowed five third period goals — three within the final 33 seconds.

A better defensive effort Thursday saw them block more shots (18) than were allowed to get to the net (17). Snodgrass attempted 19 shots but only seven found the net.

Edina junior defenseman Grace Bowlby said the focus was taking away time and space from Snodgrass “because we knew if she got a shot off it was likely going to go in.”

Edina junior goaltender Anna Goldstein earned her third consecutive playoff shutout. Eastview senior goalie Emma Tschida kept the Lightning competitive despite a 35-17 Edina advantage in shots on goal.

Sophomore forward Emily Oden scored at 7:44 of the third period. The future Gopher skated the puck from the Hornets zone, evaded a defender and fired the puck home.

“Their goalie played awesome,” Oden said. “I knew I had to get a shot at least on net.”

 

First report

Edina advanced to the Class 2A state tournament semifinals with a 1-0 victory against upset-minded Eastview on Thursday afternoon at Xcel Energy Center.

Sophomore defenseman Emily Oden, who has committed to the University of Minnesota, scored at 7:44 of the third period to propel the Hornets (20-7-1) past the Lightning.

Eastview senior goalie Emma Tschida kept her team, outshot 35-17 by Edina, in the game.

Edina junior goalie Anna Goldstein won her third consecutive postseason start by registering a shutout.

Eastview finished the season with a record of 18-7-4. 

Check back later for more on the game.