This was an emotional game for the Spartans.  Orono and Edina battled evenly in the first period.  The Hornets moved the puck nicely in the Spartans' zone, but could not establish and hold position in front of the Orono net.  Orono’s defense, once puck control was established in the Hornet’s zone, controlled the play as long as they moved the puck into the corners.  But if they tried to move the puck into the center blue line, the Hornet forwards were quick to pick it off and clear the zone.  The first period ended in a 0-0 tie.  The first period was like the quiet before the storm.  One thing was clear, the Spartans had picked up the pace in the three days since their 4-0 win over North Metro.

The second period started off with an Edina score on a power play goal from the slot.  The 1-0 lead did not last long.  A minute later, Orono’s Lucas Jorgenson broke through the Hornet defense at the Edina blue line, skated down the slot, faked right, cameback left and put the puck in the net to tie the game 1-1.  Less than a minute later, Jorgenson scored again.  This time he got the puck off a faceoff  in the Hornet’s zone at the left point and put the puck into the net through the goalie’s 5-hole.

Jorgenson’s second goal put Orono up 2-1.  That lead held through the second period.  Orono pressured Edina in the opening minutes of the third period until the Hornets caught the Orono defense out of position and turned the opportunity into a score.  Edina’s Brett Chorske broke uncontested into the left faceoff circle and fired the puck beating the Orono goalie on the right side to tie the game 2-2.

With 5 minutes to go in the game, Orono’s Blake Mesenburg scored the game winner.  Mesenburg was an opportunist picking up a puck mishandled by the Edina defense at the top of the Hornets’ crease and firing the puck in the net.  That goal made it a 3-2 game and ended the scoring.

The Spartans used their size to control the game and shut down the Hornets at the Edina blue line and in center ice for most of the game.  The Hornets demonstrated that they have the ability to move the puck and play off each other’s movements.  Both teams are headed for interesting seasons.