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Class 2A: Quick three-goal start sends Blaine past Roseau

By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune, 02/23/17, 12:45PM CST

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The Bengals' Abby Jones, Sarah Ganley and Gabby Rosenthal scored before the midpoint of the first period en route to a 7-1 victory.


Blaine celebrated after Sarah Ganley (9) put a rebound in for a goal in the first period. Photo: Kyndell Harkness * kyndell.harkness@startribune.com

Roseau played five metro-area girls’ hockey teams that finished in the top 10 of their respective classes.

Rams coach Steve Huglen learned why Blaine, which defeated his team 7-1 in the Class 2A state tournament quarterfinals Thursday, is among those elite teams.

No. 2 seed Blaine (23-3-2) tallied three goals before the halfway point of the first period and rolled to a victory.

“They have so much depth and they keep coming after you,” Huglen said.

The Bengals showed their stripes early as Abby Jones buried a great pass from fellow third-line forward Megan McKenzie less than two minutes into the game. The second line made it 2-0 on Sarah Ganley’s rebound goal at 5:37.

“That’s really been our game,” Blaine coach Steve Guider said. “We really haven’t been a team that scores a lot of pretty goals.”

What pretty goals Blaine does get often come from Gabby Rosenthal. Blaine’s leader with 28 goals, Rosenthal blasted a puck just inside the far post for a 3-0 lead.

“It was pretty awesome,” Rosenthal said. “I was lucky enough to get a nice pass for an easy shot.”

Roseau (19-9-1) posted the same number of shots on goal (11) in the first period but couldn’t beat Blaine goaltender Jaela O’Brien. That meant trouble for the methodical, defensive-minded Rams.

“We’re not the type of team that can come back and exchange goals,” Huglen said. “We got out of our element and it snowballed from there.”

DAVID LA VAQUE

First report

A fast start fueled Blaine’s 7-1 victory against Roseau in Thursday’s first Class 2A state tournament quarterfinal at Xcel Energy Center.

No. 2 seed Blaine (23-3-2) buried three goals before the halfway point of the first period. Abby Jones, Sarah Ganley and Gabby Rosenthal each tallied a goal. Rosenthal, the Bengals’ leader with 28 goals scored again in the second period.

Roseau (19-9-1) posted the same number of shots on goal (11) in the first period but couldn’t score on Blaine goaltender Jaela O’Brien. She left the game in the third period after Paige Beebe’s goal made it 6-0 and put the game in running time.

Check back later for more on the game.

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