DULUTH - No. 1 seed and No. 6-2A state-ranked Andover built a two-goal lead after two periods and hung on to defeat No. 2 seed and No. 4-2A Grand Rapids 3-1 Thursday at Amsoil Arena.

The Huskies (22-5-1), who lost 2-1 to Grand Rapids Feb. 8, took the lead on goals by Gavyn Thoreson in the first and Brooks Cogswell, who scored shorthanded in the second.

Grand Rapids (20-7-1) cut the lead to 2-1 on Ren Morque's goal midway through the third but Cayden Casey dashed the Thunderhawks' comeback hopes with an empty-net goal.

Austin Brauns stopped 29 shots for the win. Andover outshot Grand Rapids 37-30.

The game was a rematch of last season's section final, which Andover won 3-2 in Grand Rapids. The Huskies are making their third straight Class 2A state tournament appearance. 

Click for boxscore

ROCHESTER - No. 1 seed and No. 8-1A Lakeville South advances to the state tournament for the fourth-straight year and the fifth time in six years with a 4-1 win over No. 2 seed Lakeville North at the Rochester Recreation Center.

The Cougars (25-3-0) swept No. 2 seed Lakeville North (21-7-0) this season, also winning 3-0 Jan. 28 and 6-3 Dec. 14.

The sweep snaps an odd streak. The Lakeville team that swept the regular season series in 2010, 2011 and 2018 lost to its intracity rival in all three the section championship games.

Austin Stoneking scored in the first for the Cougars while North's Jameson Klein tied the game in the second by scoring with 1:36 left.

Ashton Dahms' shot from the right circle beat Lakeville North goaltender Finn Jaques 37 seconds into the third to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

On a 2-on-2 rush 1:45 seconds later, Jackson Ernst's backhand shot gave the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

Ben Portner's short-handed goal completed scoring.

Click for boxscore

EAST GRAND FORKS - Daimion Gardner scored twice as No. 1 seed and No. 2-1A Warroad defeated No. 2 seed and No. 8-1A Thief River Falls 4-1 at the East Grand Forks Civic Center.

Gardner scored in the first and second periods as the Warriors (24-3-1) built a 2-0 lead.

However, 23 seconds after Gardner's second-period goal, the Prowlers' Brendan Bottem scored to make it 2-1. That was the lone shot Thief River Falls (16-12-0) could get past Warriors goaltender Hampton Slukynsky.

Jayson Shaugabay gave Warroad a 3-1 lead, and Carson Pilgrim's short-handed goal with 2:45 left in the regulation completed the scoring.

Click for boxscore

ST. CLOUD - Gavin Olson's goal with 12:46 remaining broke a tie as No. 1 seed and No. 6-1A Alexandria recorded a 4-2 win over No. 2 seed and No. 9-1A Fergus Falls at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

The Cardinals (19-6-2) opened the scoring with a goal by Leonard Kompelien with 31 seconds left in the first. The Otters (18-10-0) tied the score with a goal by Michael DeBrito early in the second.

Alexandria and Fergus Falls traded goals to end the second tied 2-2.

Alexandria killed a penalty before Jack Lamski's empty-net goal with 1 minute left sealed the win.

Click for boxscore