Clutch Kaiser keeps Andover perfect

ST. PAUL – Sara Kaiser doesn’t score the most goals for the Andover girls hockey team, but when the game is still in doubt late in regulation, one could argue she’s the most clutch goal scorer on the Huskies’ roster.

The senior assistant captain’s 11th goal of the season in the dying minutes of the third period broke the tie that lifted Andover to its second state championship and a perfect season.

The No. 1 Huskies outlasted third-seed Minnetonka 5-4 in the Class AA championship Saturday night at the Xcel Energy Center.

“It left me speechless,” Kaiser said. “I just wanted to go straight over to our fans because of all the excitement and then celebrate with my teammates. It was amazing.”

Kaiser scored with 1:40 left on the clock after Maya Engler won a race to the puck just inside the blue line of the Skippers zone. Engler poked it forward along the half boards and Kaiser swooped in to pick up the puck and wrist it past goaltender Sophia Johnson.

Jason Wachter / The Rink Live

The call for a good goal stood after a review to make sure Kaiser was onside.

“I believed in Maya that she won the battle,” said Kaiser, whose last goal came Feb. 3. “I went for the puck and shot for the open net. It was just an amazing experience.

“I thought I was onside, but I got nervous when they reviewed it, but then I remembered I was way behind the play.”

Jason Wachter / The Rink Live

Kaiser’s heroics came into the spotlight on a much smaller stage earlier this season when Andover met Minnetonka in the championship game of the Walser Invitational on Dec. 29. She scored the game-winner on a breakaway with 3:35 left in the third period of a 4-3 win.

Andover, an emerging titan of Class AA, has made the semifinals four times in five years, appeared in the last three title games and won it all in 2020.

“I just love being here with team,” said senior captain Ashley Grabau. “The last few years set the fire in our stomachs. After taking first and then losing last year (in the finals to Edina). We used it as motivation.”

Minnetonka won three straight Class AA titles from 2011-13 and was runner-up in 2015.

The Huskies opened Saturday’s game on fire, taking the lead 15 seconds in on an Ella Boerger wrister from the left circle and Isa Goettl – battling through a collarbone injury that caused her to leave Friday’s game – scored late in the first to put Andover up two.

Jason Wachter / The Rink Live

But Minnetonka got on the board with an Ava Lindsay goal and took the lead with goals by Grace Sadura and Kendra Distad 25 seconds apart early in the second period.

Jason Wachter / The Rink Live

Boerger and Lindsay traded goals and Minnetonka maintained its one-goal lead going into the third period.

Madison Brown – who had two assists – tied the game on the power play 3:03 into the third, pouncing on a puck that ricocheted off a Skippers defender on a shot attempt by Engler, who finished with three assists.

A flurry of penalties late in regulation provided an entertaining and suspenseful finish.

With 2:47 left, sophomore defenseman Cailin Mumm was called for a two-minute body-checking penalty trying to position herself to get control of the puck but Skippers forward Lindzi Avar tumbled off Mumm and into the boards.

“It was definitely frustrating sitting in the box, but I was cheering for the girls from the box,” Mumm said. “I knew they could do it.”

Jason Wachter / The Rink Live

The Minnetonka power play lasted 52 seconds before Sadura was called for a body check of her own to leave each team with four players aside. Fifteen seconds of 4-on-4 was all the Huskies needed for the puck to come free in the neutral zone, slide over the blue line, Engler to win the race and Kaiser to put it home.

Andover limited Minnetonka to two shots in the final minute to prevent the equalizer and Courtney Stagman finished with 31 saves for the Huskies. Johnson stopped 26 shots and Lindsay finished with four total points for the Skippers.

“It stings and you can say time heals, but you never forget it,” said Skippers coach Tracy Cassano. “It doesn’t leave you, but it does drive you to work hard and get better to get back to this place and to never feel this way again.”

1/23: Andover's Sara Kaiser (3) scores on Minnetonka goalie Sophia Johnson (30) to make the score 5-4 during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

2/23: Minnetonka's Ava Lindsay (9) puts the puck over Andover goalie Courtney Stagman (1) to score during the first period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

3/23: Andover celebrate their first goal with fans against Minnetonka during the first period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

4/23: Andover's Nora Sauer (8) takes a shot at the goal during the first period against Minnetonka aturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

5/23: Andover's Ella Boerger (15) puts the puck in behind Minnetonka goalie Sophia Johnson (30) during the first period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

6/23: Andover's Maya Engler (11) circles around to the goal against Minnetonka during the first period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

7/23: Minnetonka's Lindzi Avar (13) and Andover's Cailin Mumm (4) collide into the boards during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

8/23: Andover's Ella Boerger (15) dives to make a pass against Minnetonka during the second period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

9/23: Andover goalie Courtney Stagman (1) blocks a shot by Minnetonka's Molly Ryan (29) during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

10/23: Minnetonka's Ava Lindsay (9) and Andover's Isa Goettl (12) collide chasing the puck during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

11/23: Andover's Ella Boerger (15) is persistent and finally gets the puck past Minnetonka goalie Sophia Johnson (30) during the second period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

12/23: Andover goalie Courtney Stagman (1) blocks a shot against Minnetonka during the second period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

13/23: Minnetonka's Lauren Goldsworthy (4) passes the puck past Andover's Isa Goettl (12) during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

14/23: Andover's Courtney Little (25) takes the puck around Minnetonka's Ellie Zakrajsheck (16) during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

15/23: Andover's Ashley Grabau (20) trie to stop Minnetonka's Josie Hemp (15) from making a pass during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

16/23: Minnetonka's Lauren Mack (19) and Andover's Courtney Little (25) battle for the puck during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

17/23: Andover's Sara Kaiser (3) tries to steal the puck from Minnetonka's Olivia Laroche (2) during the second period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

18/23: Andover's Madison Brown (10) puts the puck past Minnetonka goalie Sophia Johnson (30) to score during the third period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

19/23: Andover's Ella Boerger (15) is persistent and finally gets the puck past Minnetonka goalie Sophia Johnson (30) during the second period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

20/23: Minnetonka goalie Sophia Johnson (30) and Minnetonka's Lindzi Avar (13) keep Andover's Madison Brown (10) and Andover's Isa Goettl (12) from scoring during the second period Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

21/23

22/23: Andover players stormed the net to celebrate their win over against Minnetonka in the State Class AA Tournament Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

23/23: Andover players hold the trophy after winning the State Class AA Tournament Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.