RECAP
Brody Lamb scored his second consecutive hat trick to help unseeded Dodge County upset No. 4 Little Falls 4-1 Friday afternoon in a Class 1A semifinal at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The Wildcats advance to tomorrow’s Class 1A championship game, where they’ll face No. 2 Gentry Academy at 6 p.m. Dodge County is the first Section 1A team to play for the small school crown since Rochester Lourdes in 2001.
The Flyers scored first and carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but Dodge County (19-3-1) rallied in the middle frame and never looked back.
Charlie Blaisdell tied the game at 1-1 6:10 into the second period, setting the stage for Lamb to steal the show. The University of Minnesota recruit put the Wildcats in front for good at 10:01 of the second when he ripped a wrister into the top corner off an offensive zone draw, then added insurance with 4:56 remaining in the game when he caught a pass in the slot, moved the puck to his forehand and slipped a shot inside the far post.
Lamb added an empty-net goal with 66 seconds left, giving him nine through two games at the State tournament.
George Moore notched the lone goal for Little Falls (14-5-1) on a shot from the point that bounced off two Dodge County players and through goaltender Isaac Dale’s five-hole with just 20 seconds left in the first period.
Dale made big saves when he needed to and finished with 26 in the game. Counterpart Dane Couture made 17 stops for the Flyers.
KEY MOMENT
Just moments before Lamb made it 3-1 with his second goal of the afternoon, Little Falls knocked the puck into the net and appeared to tie the game at 2-2. Only problem - the official in the corner had lost sight of the puck and blew his whistle.
It was one of three calls that went against the Flyers in the game: The first was a disallowed goal due to goaltender interference in the first period; the last was a close offside review on Dodge County’s third goal.
THREE STARS
1. Brody Lamb, Dodge County - The methodical Lamb did what he does - put Dodge County on his back and scored massive goals. Another game for the future Gopher and another hat trick, giving him nine - yes, NINE, goals through two tournament games thus far.
2. Isaac Dale, Dodge County - It wasn’t always pretty, but the Wildcat goaltender did what he needed to do and gave Dodge County a chance. His 26 saves - 11 of which came in the first period when Little Falls could have built a comfortable lead - paved the way for the Brody Lamb Show.
3. George Moore, Little Falls - Not only was Moore tasked with playing against Lamb all afternoon - which he did fairly well - but he also scored the lone Flyers goal, capping an impressive postseason for the junior blueliner.
UP NEXT
Dodge County will take on No. 2 Gentry Academy in the Class 1A state championship game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.