Northland Sports Online

Edina edges Andover

The Edina girl's hockey team celebrated after defeating Andover 2-1 to claim the Group AA state championship on Saturday.    ]

ALEX KORMANN • alex.kormann@startribune.com



Edina took on Andover in the girl's hockey Class AA state championship on Saturday, April 3, 2021 in Xcel Energy Arena in St. Paul.

NSO – Mark Edwards

 

As high school hockey players statewide celebrated the mid-January start of the COVID-19 delayed season, Edina goaltender Uma Corniea waited to join the party.

She missed the Hornets’ first three games while recovering from a broken foot, the first injury to knock her out of the net.

“It was frustrating for her,” said Corniea’s mother, Marit. “I told her ‘This can be taken away at any moment. So now, what are your goals the rest of the season?’ ”

“Get back to the Xcel Energy Center” came the reply.
Edina, anchored by Corniea, returned to the Class 2A state tournament — and left Saturday in a much better place. The Hornets, runner-up to Andover a year ago, took the rematch 2-1 for their fourth title in five seasons.

Just a sophomore, Corniea made 30 saves and captured her third championship. She won two Class 1A titles with Breck.

“It’s hard to compare them,” Corniea said. “But it never gets old.”

The No. 2 ranked Hornets (22-0) did it with defense and goaltending, defusing an Andover team that had averaged 8.8 goals per game and one that never scored less than four in a game this season.

Corniea credited the efforts of top defensive pairing Lily Hendrikson and Vivian Jungels, who logged almost as much ice time as she did.

Corniea, who sharpened her hand/eye coordination as she rehabilitated her foot, needed all of her tools early against No. 1 ranked Andover (22-1). The Huskies outshot Edina 16-2 in the first period but could not best Corniea.

“They played us great defensively,” Huskies coach Melissa Volk said. “We dominated that first period, but we couldn’t bury our chances.”

Edina forward  Emma Conner (16) blocked a shot taken by Andover defender Madison Clough (2) in the first period.    ] ALEX KORMANN • alex.kormann@startribune.com Edina took on Andover in the girl's hockey Class AA state championship on Saturday, April 3, 2021 in Xcel Energy Arena in St. Paul.

Corniea enjoyed the action.

“It was comforting to know I was able to keep them from scoring,” she said. “It was kind of nice to see all those shots and get into the game.”

Edina supported her with a pair of second period goals. Berit Lindborg put the Hornets ahead 1-0 — putting Andover behind for just the second time all season — with a goal off teammate Jane Kuehl’s faceoff win.

The defending champs didn’t stay down for long. Less than two minutes later, Gabby Krause evened the score with her 26th goal of the season.

Hendrikson go-ahead goal at 5:45 off a rebound owed to a burst of great net pressure.

Andover had outscored its opponents 193-7 before Saturday. But Corniea wasn’t fazed. She overcame injury and every opponent she faced all season.

 

 

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