Warriors win in overtime to advance to fifth straight title game
The Minnesota High School Hockey Class A State Tournament kicked off semifinals day with a bang as defending champs Dodge County took on perennial contender Warroad with a spot in the state championship game on the line. The matchup was a rematch of the finals from the last two years. Warroad won in 2024, while Dodge County earned its first state title in an overtime victory last season.
Years’ past results weighed heavily on both sides, with the two teams looking forward to playing each other once again in the lead-up to Friday morning’s fixture. Senior Warroad forward Taylor Reese voiced her desire for a rematch with the Wildcats after the Warriors’ quarterfinal win.
“I wanna play Dodge County. I think we owe it to them,” Reese said. “Make them feel how we felt last year.”
In the early goings of the game, Warroad was getting just what they bargained for, with Dodge County jumping out to an early 2-0 lead. The Warriors fought back, scoring three of the next four goals to set up an even 3-3 contest heading into the third period.
Like last year’s state championship game, this matchup required overtime after a furious last-minute comeback by Dodge County. Warroad scored twice early in the period, before the Wildcats mounted a furious comeback with two late goals to tie the game.
Unlike last year, it was the Warriors who emerged victorious in this matchup, with Jaylie French scoring a breakaway goal to cap a six-point (two goals, four assists) day.
Warroad head coach David Marvin spoke after the game about how solid and effective the leadership group was in the game, crediting them for their resilience despite the intense contest.
“We didn’t plan on being down 2-0, and sure didn’t plan on giving up two goals late. I give the players all the credit in the world for sticking with it. There were a lot of opportunities to fold up our tent, and this line in particular refused to.”
French led the charge, but the Warriors also got huge performances from other mainstays. Senior Taylor Reese recorded a hat trick and added an assist, while fellow senior Linnea Harren had a goal and an assist of her own.
Taylor Reese celebrates one of her three goals Friday.Warroad and Dodge County Rivalry Grows
While the game was a classic in its own right, it was another example in a growing rivalry between the Dodge County and Warroad hockey communities.
Minnesota hockey rivalries are often based on geography or long-standing history between programs, but the Warriors and Wildcats are separated by nearly 400 miles. Warroad and Dodge County have become fierce rivals, consistently running into each other when the stakes are highest. David Marvin reflected on the budding rivalry after the game.
“I’m not surprised by their effort one bit. It was like a heavyweight fight,” Marvin said. “It’s playing in big games. We’re meeting them in big games, that’s how rivalries start, and that’s a good thing.”
While Dodge County didn’t get the result they were looking for, the Wildcats are building a dynasty of their own in southern Minnesota. The team has proved over the last several years that teams from the area can be among the best in the state.
Dodge County got several impactful performances, but the most notable came from Bryn Spreiter. Spreiter scored a hat trick that included a game-tying goal with just 20 seconds left.
Bryn Spreiter starred for Dodge County with a hat trick in Friday’s semifinal.The Dodge County community is matching the Wildcats’ efforts, as the team consistently has one of the best supporter sections at the tournament. Dodge County fans provided a raucous atmosphere for this game, showing how the fanbase and community have rallied around the team.
Dodge County Head Coach Jeremy Gunderson spoke about the team’s connection with the community after the game.
“We take a lot of pride in our program’s connection to this community. We get a lot of backing from people within and it takes a lot to make that work. For our team to be successful, we have a lot of donors, sponsors, and parents who put a lot of time in,” Gunderson said. “We’re a small-town southern Minnesota team…These girls work super hard with our youth program to keep this going. This is tight community-based hockey.”
With the semifinal victory, Warroad now has a chance to earn another state championship, restoring glory to the hockey powerhouse northern community that has made excellence a tradition.
Post game celebrations are a common occurrence for Warroad, who has built a powerhouse in Class A hockey.One of the most revealing aspects of Warroad’s disciplined winning mentality came from Jaylie French after the game. When reflecting on her game-winning goal, she says just one thought went through her head when she noticed she had a breakaway opportunity.
“Gotta bury it. That’s all I thought about,” French said. “Let’s win, it’s fun to win.”
French and the Warriors will have the chance to have fun winning one more time this season in the State Championship game against the winner of Blake vs Breck in the day’s other semifinal.
