Cougars remain unbeaten

#1 Centennial/Spring Lake Park

If there was any question who the top Class AA girls team in the state is, the Centennial/Spring Lake Park Cougars answered it with a win over No. 6 Andover to remain undefeated at 8-0-0.

Andover is a perennial power in girls hockey and carry confidence whenever they get off the bus for a game. They are simply tough to beat, and the Cougars proved they are up to the task as being mentioned in the same conversations as perennial powers Andover, Edina, Hill-Murray and Minnetonka.

Alexis Larsen got the Cougars on board just 1:18 into the game, but Andover tied it at the 10-minute mark when Wisconsin commit McKenzie Jones tallied her second goal of the season. But freshman Mia Sutch scored to close out the period to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. Larsen assisted on the goal.

Sophomore Grace Laager scored the lone second-period goal for a 3-1 lead. Laager has 14 points on the season.

The Cougars will face No. 2 Hill-Murray on Dec. 26.

#2 Hill-Murray (7-1-0)

The Pioneers are looking to get back to the state tournament, back into the title game and hopefully dethrone Edina as the Class AA champions. But there is still plenty of work to be done.

So far they have played well and come in as No. 2 in our rankings after a strong 4-1 win against No. 5 Holy Family. The game was 1-1 until late in the third period when Jaycee Chatleain scored her ninth goal of the season. The sophomore has 22 points in the tam’s first eight games. Emily Pohl added her 10th goal into an empty net for insurance and Elliana Engelhardt scored another empty-netter for the 4-1 win. Pohl leads the team with 23 points as the Pioneers are loaded with young talent.

They outshot the Fire 41-22. Holy Family goalie Kayla Swartout was fantastic in goal with 37 saves on 39 shots. Head coach Randy Koeppl, a former goalie and state champion for Bloomington Jefferson, continues to produce top goaltenders in his program.

Hill-Murray plays No. 13 Rosemount and St. Paul/Two Rivers this week.

#3 Minnetonka (7-1-1)

The Skippers keep skipping along as usual, beating opponents and hanging in the top five teams in the state. They hopped into the No. 3 slot this week after a 4-2 win over No. 2 Edina. Harvard commit Bella Finnegan scored a pair of power play goals in the second period to give the Skippers a 3-1 lead. Whitney Horton scored for Edina to make it 3-2, but the Skippers and goaltender Layla Hemp held on through a scoreless third period until Ellie Zakrajscheck scored an empty netter to secure the win.

#4 Edina (5-2-0)

The Hornets hang in at No. 4 and are responsible for Hill-Murray’s only loss, but also lost to Andover in addition to Minnetonka last week.

They are strong and capable, as always, and will linger in these top four spots for the year. They will play a tough schedule and will be better by section playoff time because of it.

University of St. Thomas commit Whitney Horton leads the team with 13 points. Penn State commit and state tournament standout Lorelai Nelson has 10 points as does sophomore Audrey Davis.

The Hornets schedule won’t get any easier as they take on No. 19 Eden Prairie Tuesday, No. 15 Farmington Thursday and No. 2A Holy Angels Saturday.

#5 Holy Family (6-2-0)

Like Edina, the Fire play a tough slate with their only losses coming to Class A power Warroad and Hill-Murray.  They will get Edina on Dec. 17 in Victoria.

Kayla Swartout has been a strong backstop for them with a .949 save percentage this far.

New Hampshire commit Josie Linn leads the team with eight goals and four assists and junior Ella Nonweiler has 11 points in the team’s first eight games. 

LPH Class AA Girls Rankings Presented by Tradition Companies