Although Rosemount coach Tracy Cassano played on the first Gophers women's hockey team to win a national title, for her – as for the Irish – the state high school tournament is uncharted territory.

The Willmar native played for the Minnesota Thoroughbreds club during her high school years, so when Rosemount clinched the Class 2A, Section 3 title Wednesday with a 6-2 victory over South Suburban rival Eastview to earn its first trip to state, it was a new feeling for both the coach and the team.

"I just remember with a minute left I went along the bench and was giving every player a tap," Cassano said. "The crowd started picking up noise. ... As the buzzer rang it was fun as a coaching staff to just sit back and watch the kids throw the gloves and the sticks in the air."

Last year the Irish made their first appearance in the section finals, where they were thumped 7-1 by Burnsville.

"I think that kind of stuck in the back of their heads," Cassano said, explaining that in her time with the team, she has preached the importance of drawing on past experience to improve from year to year.

Rosemount's players have plenty of experience with one another. Seniors Rachael Kelly, Allison Micheletti and Sarah Tollefson have played together practically since they learned to skate.

"We were the girl power line on squirts," Kelly said of the trio.

While those three don't always play on the same line these days, they have nonetheless taken their play to new heights at Rosemount. But they haven't done it alone.

Junior forward Taylor Sampson has played for the team since eighth grade, learning from stars Kelly and Micheletti – who are a year older – along the way. This year though, Sampson has emerged as a leader in her own right and was integral to the team's run, scoring in each game of the section playoffs.

"Rachael Kelly has been a dominant player really since she was in eighth grade," Cassano said. "Allison Micheletti, same thing. ... So as far as most improved, in that aspect, I see Taylor Sampson at the head of that list and she has been a huge reason why this team has been so successful."

On Thursday, Rosemount will face a loaded No. 2-seeded Edina squad that outscored opponents 22-1 in the Class 2A, Section 2 playoffs.

"We can beat anyone as long as we play as a team and work hard," Kelly said.