Edina coach Sami Reber doesn’t remember everything she said to senior forward Olivia Swaim in the immediate aftermath of the Class 2A State Tournament final. 

Swaim had just scored in the second overtime to give the Hornets their third straight state crown, and jubilant Edina skaters, managers, and coaches milled about the Hornet zone. 

“I held her. It was emotional,” Reber said after the game. 

“Swaim is someone who…it always hasn’t come easy for her and tonight in my opinion, even without the winning goal, was one of her best games,” Reber said. “She gave it her heart.”

Swaim’s heart and top-seeded Edina’s depth helped win out on Saturday night, as the Hornets erased three separate one-goal deficits before Swaim’s overtime heroics. 

Brainerd/Little Falls forward Cheyenne Abear scored less than two minutes into the first period, giving the Warriors a 1-0 lead that was wiped away by a goal from Edina’s Sophia Doll. Abby Pohlkamp again put the Warriors ahead in the first, but Vivian Jungels scored for the Hornets to send the game into the second period tied at 2-2. 

The Warriors again took the lead early in the third period, but a parade to the penalty box hammered the Warriors throughout the third stanza, including a five-minute major penalty and ten-minute misconduct called on one of No. 3 seed Brainerd/Little Falls’ Gabbie Smith. 

“You take number ten off the ice for fifteen minutes, that’s certainly going to change the flow of the game,” Warriors’ coach Jim Ernster said. “There’s no doubt that was frustrating for us. I didn’t think we were particularly aggressive.”

In total, the Warriors (25-5-1) took eight penalties, with Edina capitalizing on three power plays, including a late goal but Tella Jungels that tied the game at 3-3 and forced overtime during Gabbie Smith’s major penalty. 

“If they kill off a five-minute penalty kill without a goal by us, that’s a huge momentum swing for them,” Reber said. “Without that goal, that’s a whole different game.”

Brainerd/Little Falls goaltender Olivia King continued her outstanding play on Saturday night, stopping 51 of 54 shots in the loss.

With the win, Edina (27-4) becomes one of just two programs, along with Minnetonka to have won three straight state titles. Senior forward and team co-captain CC Bowlby has been a crucial part of all three championships and credited every member of the Hornet program with the win. 

“We made history finally winning that first one two years ago, so to keep going (with three) is unreal,” Bowlby said. “Every single person on the bench gave it everything they got.”