Prep athletes of the week: Third hockey title follows Edina goaltender Uma Corniea's shutdown game

Wherever the sophomore goaltender goes, state championships seem to follow. After backstopping Breck to consecutive Class 1A titles in 2018 and 2019, she transferred to Edina last season.

The Hornets lost in the finals in 2020, but were back on top after a 2-1 victory over previously undefeated Andover in the Class 2A championship game.

She stopped 30 of 31 shots in the finals, withstanding a 16-shot onslaught in the first period, to hold the potent Huskies, who had been averaging 8.4 goals per game, to their lowest total of the season.

Playing in her fourth consecutive state championship game, Corniea's performance showed her experience. She welcomed Andover's first-period barrage, saying it helped her "get into the game."

Corniea showed the type of calm, been-there-before demeanor that gave her teammates confidence, and was careful to note that calm does not mean bored. She told the Star Tribune that this title meant as much to her as did the previous ones.

"It's hard to compare them, but it never gets old," she said,

Explosive and dangerous in the offensive zone, the Colorado College recruit led the Eagles in scoring as they won the Class 2A state championship. He scored six goals, including a hat trick in the semifinals, and added three assists.

The seventh-grader scored a team-high 32 points in the Lions' 94-91 Class 2A quarterfinal victory over Duluth Marshall, even as the headlines went to Marshall's Gianna Kneepkens for a 67-point effort.

The Panthers trailed Minnehaha Academy 43-32 at halftime in the Class 2A quarterfinals, but the play of Miah and younger sister Mylea helped them storm back to win 58-57. Miah had 23 points, while her sister had 20.

The 6-4 senior forward keyed the Crimson's 70-61 overtime upset of No. 1 and previously undefeated Champlin Park in the Class 4A quarterfinals. He scored a game-high 25 pointsand grabbed six rebounds.

The slippery 5-8 sophomore guard found plenty of holes in the Stillwater defense in a 75-57 Class 4A quarterfinal victory, repeatedly driving fearlessly into the lane en route to a season-high 31 points.

JIM PAULSEN