It was new blood vs. old guard in the final Class 2A state quarterfinal matchup Thursday night.
And, in the end, it was the old guard that came out on top in dramatic fashion when junior forward Caleb Pittsley’s goal with 1:07 left in the first overtime lifted defending state champion Edina over Rogers 2-1 at Xcel Energy Center.
The Hornets (21-6-2), the tournament’s No. 5 seed, advances to meet top-seeded Moorhead in the state semifinals at 8 p.m. on Friday.
Edina, of course, has been a perennial state tournament participant. The Royals, though, were making their first trip.
Yet, all remained even after a scoreless first period in which each team managed seven shots on goal.
Then senior Mason Jenson, a Mr. Hockey finalist, put Rogers on top 1-0 when he drove the puck home for his 43rd goal of the season with 13:01 to play in the second.
Sophomore Bode McConnell answered back for Edina with 3:04 to play, tying the score at 1-all.
The Hornets had 12 shots on goal in the second period and the Royals had just six.
Rogers had a pair of power plays in the third, including one that started with 2:47 to play. But the Royals could not convert on either occasion. Rogers goalie Wyatt Knott came up with a big save in the final seconds of regulation, sending the game into overtime still tied.
In the end, though, it was Pittsley and the Hornets who came up with the game’s final big moment.
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