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Sports

EHS Boys Hockey Advances To Section Semifinals

Will Merchant gets pair of goals in 5-0 win over Park (Cottage Grove)

In one second-period shift, Will Merchant ensured that the Eagan boys hockey
team would win its playoff opener.

Merchant scored twice, Nick Kuchera had a goal and an assist and Cody Mason
had two assists in a 5-0 win over Park (Cottage Grove).

With the win, top-seeded Eagan (18-6-2) advances to the Section 3AA semifinals
against Hastings at 6 p.m. Saturday in the State Fair Coliseum. The fourth-
seeded Raiders (13-12-1) beat Woodbury 3-2 Thursday. Second-seeded Apple
Valley and No. 3 Cretin-Derham Hall will play in the other semifinal.

Leading 1-0 after Kuchera scored in the first period, Merchant scored 3:17
into the second period, backhanding a puck past netminder Jeremy Harer. 19
seconds later, Merchant came in from the right side, moved the puck to his
forehand and lifted a shot over Harer’s left shoulder on the short side.

“It kind of kills them when you get two on one shift,” Merchant said.

Eagan coach Mike Taylor noticed a change at that point. “They backed off a little
and we had a little more jump.”

Ten minutes after Merchant’s two quick strikes, John Carroll stretched to tip a
pass from Kuchera between the pads of Harer to make it 4-0 and Michael Zajac
scored on a rebound 17 seconds later.

Park (5-19-2) could get nothing going on offense all night. Eagan held a 57-7
shot advantage.

Eagan’s defensive theme entering the game was to give the Wolfpack no time
and no space. “We really attacked it and wanted to shut them down. We’ve been
working on that in practice since the Jefferson debacle,” Taylor said. Eagan
allowed three goals in three minutes late in the third period in last Saturday’s 3-2
loss to the Jaguars.

The Wildcats had a couple of hard practices since that loss just to make sure
they remembered what was needed if they are to reach their postseason goal.

“We just needed to put that game behind because everything we want is in front
of us,” said Eagan goaltender Tommy Bodeker. “It definitely feels good to play a
game like this. We just need to keep it rolling.”

Eagan won 7-3 at Hastings Jan. 11, a game in which the Raiders scored three
power-play goals.

“We had a tough game against them,’ Merchant said. “We just need to come out
like we did tonight and keep shooting. We’ll be fine.”

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