EHS Girls Hockey Confident Entering Postseason

Eagan’s top line is ready for section success.

Molly Sparks and Megan Wolfe each had a hat trick and the Wildcats ended the regular season with a 6-1 win at Apple Valley Saturday. Bre Steele had two assists.

Seeded fifth, Eagan is scheduled to open section play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at fourth-seeded Hastings. It is the first time in program history Eagan is not home for the opening round.

A Wildcat win would advance them to the section semifinals Saturday, most likely against top-seeded Rosemount. The Irish twice beat Eagan 4-3 during the regular season.

“We’re looking forward to getting some payback,” said Sparks, who led the team with 33 goals and was second with 56 points.

Wolfe had 26 goals and 32 assists for 58 points and Steele scored 19 times, but had 31 helpers for 50 points. The rest of the team combined for 32 goals and 63 assists.

“If they don’t score, we don’t win,” said co-coach Jeff Kolehmainen. “People know that about us. They’re not unknown at this point. They know the deal.”

“We always want to step it up,” Sparks said. “We need to focus on each game, knowing this could be our last.”

Players and coaches always say that teams can play better, and while that is always true, the Wildcats (14-9-2, 10-6-2) have been playing pretty good hockey since the calendar turned to 2011. Eagan is 7-2-2 in the calendar year, but lost to 5-4 in overtime to 12th-ranked Lakeville North and 4-3 to No. 11 Rosemount in their two contests before the Apple Valley win.

“We told them that they’ve got to come Monday ready to play six more games,” Kolehmainen said. “That’s what their goal is, especially those seniors. They’re really shooting for something. That’s how they want to finish.”

For the seniors to go out on top, Eagan’s “red line” of Shelby Williams, Katie Willems and Sarah Jackson need to keep playing well. Kolehmainen said Jackson has hands that can “sneak up on you,” and that Williams works so hard for everything. Willems is one of those seniors that has lots of playoff experience.

The trio had chances against Apple Valley, but did not make the score sheet

Eagan dominated the first period against Apple Valley, outshooting the Eagles 17-0, yet could only score twice.

Wolfe broke through at 12:44 with a slapshot from the slot and Sparks scored from in front two minutes later. Wolfe added her second on a fluke goal. As she cut in from the left circle, she lost control of the puck, but it split the pads of Apple Valley goaltender Kelly Thomsen in the final minute for a 3-0 lead.

Sparks scored again at 4:32 of the second, sending Thomsen to the bench. The goaltender had missed five straight games with a groin injury, but got the start on Senior Night. Apple Valley coach Don Erdall didn’t want to risk any further injury to Thomsen in a game that was all but over.

Marie Breckner scored for Apple Valley to make it 4-1, as Eagan coasted through the period.

“We can’t do that the rest of the way,” Kolehmainen said.

Sparks completed her hat trick 4:20 into the third period, and Wolfe scored on a rebound 23 seconds later for her third goal of the game.