A strong team effort propelled the Hornets to a 5-1 road victory over Cretin-Derham Hall after the game started out fast with both teams creating opportunities to score.

Edina’s newly appointed head coach Sami Reber helped her team stay motivated through early adversity against the Raiders. Reber was the assistant women’s hockey coach at University of Minnesota-Duluth, but returned to her alma mater to help lead the Hornets to a championship.

“It feels amazing to come back here and the girls are fantastic to work with,” said Reber.

Both sides ran into penalty trouble as they each committed two penalties in the first period.

Despite Edina outshooting Cretin-Derham Hall early in the first period, Raider goaltender Megan Meyers withstood the pressure. The Raiders found themselves down a player early in the period, but that didn’t stop junior Anna Klein from scoring a short-handed goal to give the Raiders an early lead.

After the period ended, Reber told her team that they still had time to come back and win after giving up the early lead.

“I told them we needed to calm down and start moving the puck,” said Reber. “I think they freaked out a little after giving up the early goal, but regained their confidence and played their game.”

Reber’s talk seemed to do the trick, as the second and third period were dominated by Edina.

In the second period, the Hornets, ranked No. 2-2A by Let's Play Hockey, scored quickly as senior Grace Bowlby tied the game at one. Edina wasn’t done yet as a power play goal and an even strength goal quickly turned the game in favor of Edina.

Edina senior Anna Klein had a big game, helping the Hornets rally. She had three assists on the night, all coming in the second period—helping lift her team’s momentum and morale.

“I think we all played a bit too individually in the first period, but after that we came together and played how we normally do,” said Klein.

Edina utilized its strength and speed to beat the No. 5-2A Raiders, and their conditioning seemed to pay off late in the game. Forwards CC Bowlby and Lolita Fidler sealed the Hornet victory with a goal apiece in the final period of the game.

Edina's defense was a highlight of the night with senior Anna Goldstein stopping all but one of the 22 shots she faced, helping to keep the team in the game after a slow start. 

Meyers had 18 saves on 23 shots for the Raiders.

Cretin-Derham Hall (1-1-1) never gave up and wouldn’t go away, trying to get back into the game. However, they could not capitalize on any of the five power plays they had against Edina's (2-0-0) stout penalty kill.

Klein, who is committed to playing hockey for University of Minnesota-Duluth next year, said that she was proud of her team’s effort. 

Edina overcame a slow start to take down Cretin-Derham Hall 5-1 at Highland Arena Friday night.

The No. 5-2A Raiders struck first with a short-handed goal early in the first period, but after that the game’s momentum swung in favor of the No. 2-2A Hornets.

The second period was all Edina as Grace Bowlby evened the game at one apiece. The Hornets scored two more goals during the second period to add to their lead. Edina senior Anna Klein contributed with assists on all three second period goals.

Edina (2-0-0) tacked on two more goals in the third period, earning a road win against the Raiders (1-1-1).

Anna Goldstein stopped 21 of the 22 shots for the Hornets while Megan Myers logged 18 saves for the Raiders.