East Ridge forward Lauren Beaubien (18) scored the Raptors' second goal of the game against Eagan, getting the puck past goaltender Ashley Larson (33) in the second period. Photo: RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER ¥ renee.jones@startribune.com
The East Ridge girls’ hockey team is headed to its first state tournament next week.
The Raptors upset section top seed Eagan 2-0 in the Class 2A, Section 3 final on Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Community Center in Inver Grove Heights to propel them to their first state tournament since the school was started in 2009.
“It’s something we’ve all dreamed about forever and I’m too excited, I don’t know what to say,” East Ridge senior forward Katherine Flynn said. “One of my teammates told me, ‘Guys we just made history.’ And I was like, ‘Huh, I guess you’re right.’ It didn’t dawn on me that we would.”
For much of the first period, it looked like Eagan (19-7) was too much for No. 3 seed East Ridge (17-8). The Wildcats outshot the Raptors 12-2 but East Ridge and goaltender Emerald Kelley weathered the offensive pressure. The Raptors scored on a goal off Flynn's stick with just under 7 minutes left in the period.