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GHS: Sophomores Lead EP To Victory

By Peter Odney , 11/17/18, 8:15PM CST

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Molly Goergen made 25 saves and Grace Kuipers scored in the second period to help the Eagles upset the No. 4-2A Pioneers.


Molly Goergern has stopped 56 of 58 shots she's faced in three games so far this season.

No. 9-2A Eagles Move to 3-0

With the graduation of ultra-talented goaltender Alexa Dobchuk, last year’s Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year, the Eden Prairie coaching staff knew they’d have someone else between the pipes this season. 

While there is still no definitive answer, sophomore Molly Goergen has undoubtedly made the most of her opportunities while splitting time with senior Brynn McDonald.

Goergen stopped 25 of 26 shots on Saturday afternoon, powering her Eagles to a 2-1 win over Hill-Murray, ranked No. 4 in the latest Class 2A state coaches’ poll.   

“She’s got upside, she’s got potential,” Eagles head coach Jamie Grossman said of Goergen. “I think she hasn’t always been pushed coming through the system because she’s clearly been the best goalie at her age (group),” Grossman continued, adding that McDonald has pushed Goergen for the starting spot since the first day of tryouts. 

“Brynn’s a kid that as a sophomore we put on our playoff roster because she is the number-one cheerleader on the bench,” Grossman said. “Even when she wasn’t getting goalie reps, she’s the one who’s cheering people on,” Grossman continued. “When she sees somebody down, she’s picking them up.”

“Those are the types of kids that we love on this team. The kids that want to do well themselves, but they also care about the kid next to them.”

Goergen said that she borrows plenty from McDonald, including her rebound control and her ability to stay on her feet, adding that watching Dobchuk for a full season as a freshman has also helped her fast start. 

“I watched Alexa Dobchuk play last year, and it’s really encouraging to see her play and watch her move, and this year having the chance to move how she does and follow in her footsteps and get those big wins,” Goergen said. 


Corinne Brown (13) scores for Hill-Murray during the Pioneers' 2-1 loss to Eden Prairie on Saturday.

Fellow sophomore Grace Kuipers is also following in footsteps, those of the premier scorers that have come before her in the program’s history. 

As a freshman, Kuipers tallied 10 goals and 26 total points, but was held scoreless during the state tournament and had not yet notched a goal in two games this season for the Eagles before scoring the game’s first goal during the second period. 

“The beginning of the year it was kind of hard for me, but once I get one, things get better,” Kuipers said of her (relatively) slow start.

Grossman said that Kuipers, who verbally committed to Princeton last season, mirrors Goergen’s development path as precocious players who are understandably being challenged during the initial portion of their high school careers. 

“I’ve seen her play since (Under) 10’s when she was an eight-year-old playing U-10’s, and she’s just been so much better than everybody else,” Grossman said of Kuipers. “She never really had to learn the game because she would skate faster (than the other players), and shoot and score. She was the kid going bar-down when the other kids couldn’t get the puck off the ice,” Grossman said with a chuckle. 

Grossman added that Kuipers has made the most significant leap of any of his players talent-wise and that her early goal-drought had more to do with nerves than skill. 

“She’s just been gripping the stick too hard,” Grossman said.    

Senior forward and Minnesota State commit Sydney Langseth extended the No. 9-2A Eagles’ lead to 2-0 in the third period, but the lead shrank to one as Hill-Murray’s Corinne Brown scored while tumbling to the ice. 

Goergen and the Eden Prairie defense went about there business for the game’s final minutes, blocking shots and frustrating a Pioneer offense that had outscored opponents 17-4 in its first three games. 

“For me it was an encouraging night, but as I told them just now, it sets the bar higher,” Grossman said of the victory. 

“This tells us what we’re capable of if we’re willing to put in the work.” 


Eden Prairie leading scorer Sydney Langseth scored the second goal for the Eagles on Saturday.

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