That cliché about how tough it is to beat a team three times in a season? Eden Prairie’s girls’ hockey team isn’t listening.

The Eagles continued their mastery of Lake Conference rival Edina, posting a 4-0 shutout to win the Class 2A, Section 2 championship game Friday at Ridder Arena.

No. 1 seed Eden Prairie (20-7) defended its section championship and returns to the state tournament.

Eagles players believed that beating Edina twice in the past 10 games going into Friday’s matchup was an advantage.

“Our coach told us he believes that two wins will take down the other team’s confidence,” Eagles co-captain Josie Olson said. “We trusted that would work, and it did.”

Charly Dahlquist opened the scoring on Eden Prairie’s first shot on goal. No. 2 seed Edina (17-8-3) had outscored its two previous section opponents by a combined score of 16-0.

Edina outshot the Eagles 28-18 to no avail. Precocious eighth-grade goaltender Alexa Dobchuk stood tall.

“She’s amazing,” Olson said. “We can count on her in the net and she keeps us calm on the ice.”

Olson’s third-period goal made it 2-0. More support for Dobchuk followed.
Ashley Astor poked in a loose puck and Lauren Boyle finished a pretty play with a tap-in goal as the Eagles pulled away.

“Last year we set a goal to make it to state,” Olson said. “This year we want to be the No. 1 team, and we’re on the road to that.”