Eagan Beats Moorhead, Sets Up Rematch With Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie’s student section was blunt. During the Eagles’ state quarterfinal matchup with Lakeville North, their student section couldn’t help but look ahead with a “We want Eagan” chant.

For Eagan boys hockey junior Michael Zajac, the feeling is mutual.

“With EP, we always give them a tough time,” Zajac said. “I’d love to play them and beat them again.”

After Thursday’s 4-0 win over Moorhead in the Class AA quarterfinal at Xcel Energy Center, the Wildcats will get their shot at this year’s top-seeded team. Eagan and Eden Prairie will play Friday at 8 p.m. with a trip to the state title game on the line.

They got there by out-dueling the Spuds in what turned into a battle between Eagan goalie Tommy Bodeker and Moorhead netminder Michael Bitzer.

After Wildcats forward Nick Kuchera scored 3:35 into the first period, Bodeker and Bitzer went save-for-save for the next 43 minutes—notching 27 and 30, respectively, by game’s end.

Not surprisingly, the goal that broke the scoreless streak was a highlight-reel tally by Eagan’s Will Merchant. Merchant picked up the puck in the corner, wrapped around the net, put the puck between his legs and spun around before flipping the puck past Bitzer.

“He has unreal hands,” Zajac said. “He always works on that between the legs move in practice. He pulled it out in the state tourney and it looked unbelievable.”

Merchant said everything flowed in the moment. But his quick maneuvering gave Eagan (21-6-1) enough breathing room to secure the victory. Two more empty net goals iced the game.

That offensive production was more than enough to outlast the Spuds.

Moorhead coach Dave Morinville said the Wildcats were able to do something to the Spuds (19-7-3) most teams could not during the season. Their size made it difficult to attack the opposing net.

“Sometimes when you’re playing a team like that it feels like you’re skating in mud,” Morinville said. “You just can’t get stuff going. That game was hard work for us tonight.”

The victory sets Eagan and Eden Prairie up with its much-anticipated rematch. The Wildcats beat the Eagles 4-2 on Dec. 22, but since that game Eden Prairie is 17-3-2.

GAME SUMMARY

Moorhead 0 0 0 — 0

Eagan 1 0 3 — 4

Scoring — First period: 3:35 EAGAN Nick Kuchera (John Carroll). Second period: No scoring. Third period: 12:42 EAGAN Will Merchant (unassisted), 14:50 EAGAN Cody Mason (unassisted) ENG, 16:57 Brady Loew (unassisted) ENG. Shots on goal — MOOR 27, EAGAN 34. Power plays — MOOR 0-1, EAGAN 0-0. Saves — MOOR Michael Bitzer 30, EAGAN Tommy Bodeker 27.