Lakeville South dominated their crosstown rivals Lakeville North with a 5-1 victory in the Section 1AA Championship, punching their ticket back to the Minnesota State Tournament. The Cougars controlled the pace from start to finish, outshooting North 48-16 and delivering a statement win on their way to St. Paul.
First Period:
Lakeville South struck first at 10:58, as Oscar Balkins buried an even-strength goal, assisted by Jackson and Carter Ernst. The Cougars extended their lead five minutes later, with Brayden Olsen scoring off a setup from Tristan Lawrence to make it 2-0 after one period.
Second Period:
Lakeville South continued their pressure, capitalizing on a power play at 5:41 when Olsen netted his second goal of the game, assisted by Carter Ernst and Luke Johnson. Lakeville North managed to cut into the lead at 9:23, when Blake Bachmeier found the back of the net, assisted by Andrew Thompson. However, South still held a 3-1 lead heading into the final period.
Third Period:
Lakeville South shut down any hopes of a comeback, adding two more goals to seal the deal. Jackson Ernst scored at 2:53, followed by Jack Starfield’s goal at 13:46, securing the 5-1 win. Goaltender Carson Hauger was solid in net, stopping 15 of 16 shots for the Cougars.
With the win, Lakeville South returns to the Minnesota Class AA State Tournament after not making it last season.
Stay tuned for full state tournament coverage and analysis as Lakeville South prepares for its next challenge! 🏒🔥
