Breck scores eight goals in first period to rout Luverne in girls' hockey quarterfinals

Breck was more than ready. The two-time defending Class 1A champs, top-seeded and ranked No. 1 in the state, had gone nearly a week without a game. All coach Steve Persian had to do was release the bowstring.

The Mustangs scored their first goal just 55 seconds into their quarterfinal game against Luverne, added four more before the first period reached its halfway point and coasted to an 8-1 victory.

Olivia Mobley, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, and linemate Ally Qualley each scored hat tricks in an eight-goal first period, one goal short of a state tournament record for goals in a single period. Freshman forward Ava Lindsay scored the other two.

"The team, all year long, in many cases has had very quick starts," Persian said. "After four, five days of practice with a day off on Sunday, I think they were ready to get the tournament started."

With a stated team goal of a three-peat, Mobley said a season's worth of focus came out Wednesday. "Every game, every practice has been leading up to this tournament and hopefully getting back to Saturday," she said.

The Mustangs (23-6-0) played the final two periods with no intent to score. Their 25 shots on goal in the first period was their game total.

"There comes a time when enough's enough," Persian said.

"It's the state tournament and you're going to see the best of the best," he said. "We saw that today."