Andover's Peyton Hemp (5) fires a wrist shot for a first-period goal Thursday in the Class 2A, Section 7 final against Forest Lake. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine
31-0.
That’s the margin the Andover girl’s hockey team outscored its Class 2A, Section 7 opponents by in its three section tournament games. The latest, an 8-0 section championship victory over Forest Lake (19-7) at Fogerty Arena in Blaine on Thursday, clinched the Huskies' third consecutive state tournament appearance and fifth in seven years.
“It’s huge for our program,” Andover coach Melissa Volk said. “Obviously it’s big for our players and our families, but we have a ton of girls in our youth program that really support us and the community as a whole.”
“We knew they were going to come out hard and wanted to win because they have so many seniors and this was kind of their year,” Kaiser said. “But we worked hard and got business done.”
Kaiser, junior Peyton Hemp and junior Gabby Krause each finished with two goals.
Andover has now defeated Forest Lake in the last three section championship games. The Huskies also defeated the Rangers 3-1 earlier this season.
Forest Lake coach Todd Gutterman said his team “didn’t really play the game we wanted and a lot of it goes to the pressure they put on us. Credit to them, they’re a really good hockey team.”
Looking forward, Andover hopes to improve on its fourth-place finish in 2019 state tournament, when it was upset by Brainerd in the semifinals.
“After the state tournament last year, we were really motivated to get back to work and put us in a good position for this season,” Volk said.
Andover's Madison Kaiser (29) looks for a shot during Thursday night’s Class 2A, Section 7 championship in Blaine. Kaiser scored two goals for the Huskies in their 8-0 victory over the Rangers. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine
31-0.
That’s the margin the Andover girl’s hockey team outscored its Class 2A, Section 7 opponents by in its three section tournament games. The latest, a 8-0 section championship victory over Forest Lake (19-7) at Fogerty Arena in Blaine on Thursday, clinched the Huskies' third consecutive state tournament appearance and fifth in seven years.
The goals came early and often for Andover (23-2). Sophomore Madison Kaiser scored on a power play goal six minutes into the game, the first of four first-period tallies.
Andover scpred two goals in the second period and one in the third as Forest Lake was never able to find a solution for the high-powered Huskies offense.
Kaiser, junior Peyton Hemp and junior Gabby Krause each finished with two goals.
Andover has now defeated Forest Lake in the last three section championship games. The Huskies also defeated the Rangers 3-1 earlier this season.
Andover hopes to improve on its fourth-place finish in 2019 state tournament, when it was upset by Brainerd in the semifinals.
Check back later for more on the game.