Moorhead Shuts Down Edina, Returns to State Championship

Moorhead Shuts Down Edina, Returns to State Championship

The Spuds scored three third-period goals to defeat Edina 3–1 Friday night and advance to the Class AA State Championship game.

Moorhead and Edina faced off in the final semifinal of the Class AA Tournament Friday night with a trip to the state championship on the line. The battle was a matchup between the last two state champions, with the Hornets capturing the title in 2024 and the Spuds winning their first as a program in 2025. The winner of Friday night’s semifinal had a contest awaiting them with top-seeded Minnetonka in the State Championship game.

The game was also the two teams’ second of the season, with Moorhead and Edina facing off in the opening round of November’s Turkey Trot tournament in Plymouth.

Moorhead won that game while scoring three third-period goals after the Spuds and Hornets entered the final frame tied 3-3.

Like the opening round of the Turkey Trot, Moorhead defeated Edina Friday night in a game that was competitive for long stretches.

While November’s game was a high-scoring affair, Friday night’s matchup had a much slower pace. The Spuds and Hornets each produced six shots on goal in a scoreless first period without too much action.

Moorhead appeared to break the ice deep into the second period on a goal from Max Cullen, but the goal was ultimately overturned due to an offside call.

From there, neither team found a breakthrough, with very few shots on goal from either club. The Spuds and Hornets entered the third period scoreless. Edina led the shot count 10-9.

Moorhead saw their first goal come off the board, but it didn’t stay that way for long. Shortly into the third and final period, the Spuds successfully manufactured the first lead of the game with a goal from Tyden Bergeson, who scored on a one-timer from the low faceoff circle to give Moorhead the lead with a period of hockey remaining.

The Spuds extended their lead with 8:50 remaining with a goal from Zac Zimmerman. The goal came from a 3-on-2 rush where Zimmerman streaked behind the Hornets’ defender and found himself alone to receive a pass that he tapped into the net.

Moorhead scored a third goal about a minute later on another odd-man rush. Edina’s goaltender, Chase Bjorgaard, made a great first save, but an Edina defender slid into him, making it impossible to get to Michael Herman’s shot.

The Hornets produced several high-quality chances down the stretch, but Moorhead goaltender Will Arnold made several fantastic saves.

Edina finally got a breath of life with 1:15 remaining in the game when a shot from the point found its way to the back of the net. A two-goal comeback with 1:15 remaining would be a tall task, but now it seemed possible.

There was no comeback in the cards, however, as the Spuds held on for a 3-1 win to send themselves to a championship game against Minnetonka.

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