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Tested early, top seed Andover pulls away and reaches the Class 2A semifinals

By Heather Rule, Special to the Star Tribune, 02/24/22, 9:45AM CST

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The Huskies improved their record to 28-0 with a victory over Brainerd/Little Falls


Andover's Ella Boerger won a faceoff against Brainerd/Little Falls' Avery LeMieur during the first period Thursday night. Photos by JEFF LAWLER, SportsEngine

Andover defeated Brainerd/Little Falls 5-0 in Thursday’s Class 2A girls' hockey state tournament quarterfinals at Xcel Energy Center, pumping 53 shots on goal.

But the Huskies weren’t happy with their play at the second intermission up by two. What was lacking?

“I would have to say that I don’t think our intensity was there today,” said defenseman Cailin Mumm. “I think we needed to get on pucks harder. We needed to execute more. Considering all the shots, we just weren’t executing, and that’s frustrating for us.”

The Huskies (28-0) realized they needed to come out and show what they could do, junior Isa Goettl said. So, Goettl scored 29 seconds into the third period to make it 3-0. Mackenzie Jones added her sixth and seventh goals of the season on shots from the point, the second on the power play.

Andover had clung to a 1-0 lead until about seven minutes remained in the second period when Andover’s Ella Boerger intercepted a pass on the penalty kill, springing herself for a breakaway, backhanded, shorthanded goal.

“Things could have gone two really different ways at that point,” Andover coach Melissa Volk said. “So that was huge for Ella to score that goal.”

Warriors goaltender Breya Sawyer made 48 saves.

“I thought we did a good job containing them the first two [periods], absolutely,” said Warriors coach Tate Rusk, whose team is 17-12-0 . “Then a couple of whoopsie goals there, the power play, a turnover shorthanded.” 

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