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Historic Upset: Lakeville South Beats No. 1 Duluth East

In historic fashion, underdog Lakeville South defeats the state's top team, Duluth East, 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the state high school hockey tournament.

 

In one of the biggest state tournament upsets of all time, Lakeville South's boys hockey team defeated the state's top team, Duluth East, 3-2 in the state quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center.

Senior captain Justin Kloos scored the winning goal late in the third period, and assisted on one other.

"The last two years we were knocked off in section championship game and it was like it was never going to happen," Kloos said of making it to state after the game. "But we believed all game (we were best). All of our young guys—we played our kind of game."

Duluth East (27-2) started the scoring early in the first on a goal by Trevor Olson. The period was dominated by the Geryhounds, but Lakeville South net-minder Tyler Schumacher kept the Cougars (21-8) in the game.

South broke through to tie it in the second when Patrick Lauderdale scored, assisted by Kloos. It was Kloos' 100th point of the season.

South entered the third period tied, but dominated the final period of play, scoring early in the frame on a goal by John Wiitala. Kloos scored an empty net goal with less than a minute to go, and Duluth East picked up a late goal by Olson with nine seconds to go to cut the lead to 3-2.

East led in shots, 27-22, but South had 15 scoring chances to East's 10.

The Cougars will face the winner of the Edina, Benilde St. Margaret's game at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Xcel in the semifinals.

Related Topics: Boys State, Duluth East, Historic, Hockey, Lakeville South, state hockey, and upset

Deb Preachuk

8:18 am on Friday, March 9, 2012

North or South, when it comes to the state championship, I hope we are ONE UNITED LAKEVILLE! Congratulations boys! Lou Nanny gave you a zero percent chance to win! Way to beat the odds! Proud of you all. No matter what happens from here on, you are ALL champions in our eyes!

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