Proctor/Hermantown's Mariah Haedrich (left) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a goal in the second period against Red Wing in the Class 1A state tournament quarterfinals Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. Photo: DAVID JOLES • david.joles@startribune.
Proctor/Hermantown stuck to its defensive game in the team’s second meeting with Red Wing in the Class 1A quarterfinal.
“We didn’t change very much, to be honest,” Mirage coach Glen Gilderman said.
Except the outcome.
After losing to the Wingers in early December, the Mirage (17-12-0) upset No. 3-seeded Red Wing 3-1 Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. It marked just the sixth time in 38 Class 1A state quarterfinal games that the higher-seeded team lost.
Photo gallery, Class 1A quarterfinals
The Mirage scored a pair of second-period goals and shutdown one of the state’s top players, Taylor Heise.
“They back-checked like no one’s business,” Heise said.
The Wingers (23-5-0) had defeated Proctor/Hermantown 5-2 on Dec. 9. Since then the Mirage adjusted their penalty kill, which on Wednesday included assigning senior Mariah Haedrich to defend Heise. The Mirage penalty kill went 4-for-4.
After a scoreless first period, Haedrich showed off her offensive skills at 2:33 into the second to give her team a 1-0 lead. Her goal came off a Wingers turnover in their own zone. Haedrich was there and then beat the goaltender with a backhand shot.
“The puck just coughed up to me,” Haedrich said. “I just tried to put it on net and find an opening as much as I could.”
Sophomore defender Megan Madill scored from the slot a few minutes later for a 2-0 lead. The Mirage added an empty-net goal with 1:49 to play before Maria Haley scored the only goal for Red Wing with 34.6 seconds left. Mirage junior goaltender Ryan Gray made 23 saves.
First report
Proctor/Hermantown delivered the first upset of the Class 1A girls' hockey state tournament with a 3-1 victory over No. 3 seed Red Wing (23-5-0) on Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center.
Mariah Haedrich scored 2:33 into the second period for a 1-0 lead off a Red Wing turnover behind its own net. Nearly six minutes later, the Mirage (17-12-0) had a 2-0 lead with a goal from Megan Madill who found the puck in the slot and scored her eighth goal of the season.
Maria Haley scored for the Wingers with 34.6 seconds left in the game.
The Mirage added an empty-net goal with 1:49 to play to seal the victory. Junior goaltender Ryan Gray made 23 saves in goal.
Check back later for more on the game.
Girls Hockey Hub Headlines
MN high school girls hockey legend retires. Warroad's Gigi Marvin ends her PWHL career.
- By John Wawrow, The Associated Press 10/07/2024, 6:30pm CDT
Parents admit harassment accusations against longtime Warroad girls hockey coach were untrue
- By Elliot Hughes Star Tribune 08/08/2024, 5:30pm CDT
National federation mandates neck guards
- By KEVIN BERTELS, Star Tribune 05/16/2024, 2:45pm CDT
Five moments that made Edina a champion
- By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune 02/26/2024, 8:15am CST
A future Gopher is Ms. Hockey, and a state standout is Senior Goalie of the Year
- By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune 02/25/2024, 2:30pm CST
