One of the Blaze’s two losses this winter was a 3-2 overtime loss to Lakeville South on Feb. 9. Burnsville (14-2-1) led twice before Lakeville South (12-4-1) put the game away in bonus time.

“It was definitely a really big game, and I think we all showed up and we all just played our hearts out until the end,” said Burnsville junior forward Sami Bowlby. “I'm just really proud of this team.”

Bowlby, a Quinnipiac commit, is the Blaze’s leading scorer with 22 points. After a scoreless, penalty-free first period Thursday, she forced the issue and attacked the net in the middle period.

Her shot from point blank range bounced off Lakeville South senior goalie Lauren Sorvari. The puck was promptly cleaned up by junior forward Zoie Dundon, who scored with 4:51 on the clock.

Burnsville dominated control of the puck in the second period, boasting a 12-3 shots-on-goal advantage. The Blaze outshot the Cougars 27-22 overall.

“I thought we did a really good job controlling the puck in our zone, making a lot happen and putting a lot of shots on their goalie,” Bowlby said.

Lepper was pleased with the defensive effort despite missing one of its leaders in back, junior Liv Carlson, due to injury.

“The girls just stuck to our plan. We made one minor tweak for our defensive zone and it worked very well tonight,” Lepper said. “It was literally a 3-foot difference, is what we did. I think it changed a lot of stuff that they're normally able to do and kept them on the perimeter a little more.”

Lakeville South, ranked No. 8 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, hadn’t lost by more than a goal since its season opener but found itself down 2-0 after Hannah Benfer scored from close range for Burnsville with 8:41 remaining in the third period.

The score appeared to be a back-breaker for Lakeville South, which was nine seconds removed from a power play expiring.

Junior forward Taylor Otremba, a future Minnesota State Mankato player, scored twice in the teams’ first meeting, including a game-winner in overtime. Her team-leading 21st goal of the season on a power play with 1:21 left Thursday breathed new life into the Cougars.

Burnsville goalie Maria Wilden’s potential fourth shutout was by the wayside. Now it was time for her and her team’s defense to go into survival mode for the final 81 seconds of regulation.

“I don't care how you do it, get the puck out,” Lepper told his team during a timeout. “We can ice it, we're in the box, just get it out. Don't over-stickhandle, you've got to get it as high and as hard as you can out of the zone.”

The Blaze walled up to keep Otremba, junior forward Claire Enright, a Gophers recruit, and the rest of the Cougar gang at bay.

Lakeville South may yet earn the top seed in the Class 2A, Section 1 playoffs. It’s in the mix at the top with Northfield, which is unbeaten but only No. 19 in the coaches’ poll due to a schedule mixed with Class 1A and 2A opponents. Northfield is No. 5 in the QRF while Lakeville South is No. 7.

Burnsville, meanwhile, won and tied its two games with Eastview, its closest section competition.

Lepper was eager to tout his team’s accomplishments.

“They are also the academic section champions,” Lepper said. “These girls are doing it in the classroom and on the ice.”