St. Paul United at South St. Paul
7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14

South St. Paul edged St. Paul United 2-1 in overtime of last year’s Class 1A, Section 4 championship to secure its 14th state tournament bid - the most in Minnesota girls' high school hockey history. 

Goaltender Sydney Conley had a lot to do with that win, turning away 34 shots to keep the Packers in the game despite being outshot 35-12. 

South St. Paul graduated Conley, who left with the school record for career wins (62), as well as all-state forward and leading scorer Anna Barlow (14G, 10A). The two were key in helping the Packers finish fourth at state last year.

Senior Abigail Felton (11G, 10A) is the top returning scorer for No. 11-1A South St. Paul, while senior AJ Deering (8G, 9A) and junior Makena Burke (3G, 10A) are among the veterans coming back.

In last year's section championship game, the Packers also held Spartans all-state forward Joie Phelps scoreless, something that rarely happened last year.

Phelps (37G, 24A) returns for her junior season, as does senior all-state goaltender Catherine Johnson, who posted a 16-8-1 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

Forwards Samantha Burke (23G, 32A) and Lauren Boettcher (17G, 27A), along with defender Clare Tipler (17A), are among the top returners for No. 4-1A St. Paul United, which seeks its first state trip since the 2013-14 season.

Burke scored four goals and Catherine Kerin added three in an 11-2 victory over Rochester Mayo in the season opener on Nov. 5.