No matter what Edina tried, it could not figure out how to get the puck past Buffalo goaltender Kendra Carlson. The Hornets battered Carlson with 29 shots in the first two periods of Thursday's second Class 2A quarterfinal, but the quick, agile senior turned away every one.
Their task grew more urgent when Buffalo scored early in the third period to take a 1-0 lead.
But Edina kept its wits. Freshman Emily Oden ended the drought with a pair of power-play goals — including the winner with 54.4 seconds left — to lift the Hornets (21-7-1) to a 3-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center. Oden tied the score with a goal from the left circle at 3 minutes, 32 seconds of the third period, and she got open in front of the net to score the winner.
Buffalo (21-8) was outshot 40-18, but Carlson kept the Bison in the game with her superb play. Edina center Taylor Williamson, who was stopped 10 times by Carlson, had high praise for the goalie — and the Hornets' tenacity.
"That goaltender played an unbelievable game,'' said Williamson, the Star Tribune's Metro Player of the Year and a Ms. Hockey finalist. "What it goes down to is sticking to the game plan, finding your teammates and doing everything you can to find a way to get it in the back of the net.''
Buffalo broke a 0-0 tie when Abby Halluska scored 51 seconds into the third period.
Edina attempted 73 shots to the Bison's 27.
Rachel Blount