Warroad junior Lila Lanctot’s three goals in a span of 1 minute, 38 seconds during Friday’s semifinal is believed to be the fastest hat trick in girls’ hockey state tournament history. In 1998, Natalie Darwitz scored three goals in 2:18 for Eagan in the consolation final against Anoka.

Starting with Madison Lavergne’s goal that made it a 2-0 lead at the 11:41 mark of the third period and ending with Lanctot’s third goal of a hat trick at 13:49, Warroad scored four goals in 2:08. That came close to what’s believed to be the state tournament record for the least time for four goals by one team in a game. Warroad’s 2013 team scored four in 1:59 against New Ulm in the Class 1A quarterfinals.

Lanctot and linemates Lavergne and Kaiya Sandy combined for the four goals Friday.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Lavergne said. “Our line has not been like this all year, and we just finally sort of connected today.”

Class 1A title game is a battle from the north

Defending champion Proctor/Hermantown will face top-seeded Warroad for the Class 1A title in a rematch of last year’s semifinal won by the Mirage won 3-1. Warroad hopes to win for the first time since it took home titles in 2010 and 2011.

Warroad has three runner-up finishes and four third-place finishes since.

“I think the pressure more so comes from being here so many years in a row and not quite getting there,” Lanctot said. “So we just really want to finish it off.”

Mirage rely on experience

Proctor/Hermantown relied on past state tournament experience to persevere for a comeback victory in the third period of its semifinal against Orono.

The Mirage returned 10 players from last year’s team, which erased deficits in both its semifinal and championship games.

“We’ve seen these situations before,” Mirage coach Emma Stauber said. “So that definitely helps.”

Penalty shot drama

Hauled down from behind on a third-period breakaway, junior forward Grace Sadura created two options for Minnetonka.

Go on the power play or take a penalty shot. Skippers coach Tracy Cassano put the puck on the stick of Sadura, the team leader with 24 goals.

“She looked pretty focused and locked in,” Cassano said. “I told her, “I love ’ya; I believe in ’ya. And whatever happens, we’ve got your back.’ ”

Edina goaltender Uma Corniea, a junior with three state titles to her credit, hung tough. Cassano said Corniea poked the puck away from Sadura “at the last second, otherwise I thought she would do her patent five-hole move.”

Up for the moment

Minnetonka boasts three players with significant championship game experience. Forward Ava Lindsay won three Class 1A titles while attending Breck. Defender Elly Klepinger joined Lindsay on two of those Mustangs title teams. And defender Josie Hemp saw action in two Class 2A championship games with Andover, winning in 2020 and falling last year.