First Jackson Cates swiped at the puck, then his brother Noah did the same. Stillwater’s top two scorers were hacking and swatting their way through the crease in a last-gasp attempt to force overtime.
 
“It was just desperation,” said Noah Cates, whose final backhand shot was stopped by the extended right leg of Wayzata senior goaltender Alex Schilling as time expired and the net was knocked off its moorings.
 
Schilling’s final clutch stop in a Friday night filled with them secured a 2-1 Wayzata victory in the Class 2A boys’ hockey semifinal at Xcel Energy Center. It sent third-seeded Wayzata (20-8-1) past the second-seeded Ponies (27-1-1) and on to the first state championship game in program history.
 
“We always had that belief that we are going to do this,” Schilling said about reaching the Saturday’s title game. “With the leadership we have in the locker room — these guys are incredible. I can’t wait until tomorrow night.”
 
In a game loaded with unexpected twists and turns, the Trojans’ winning goal came with 95 seconds left on a breakaway by sophomore fourth-line forward Griffin Ness.
 
“There were probably a few people out there in the stands wondering why we were putting our fourth line out there with five minutes left in the game,” Wayzata coach Pat O’Leary said.
 
Ness scored his fourth goal of the season, and first since early February.
 
“I was a little nervous,” said Ness, whose goal gave Wayzata a 2-0 lead. “You know, a lot of people in the crowd. I just picked my head up and found a corner, and it happened to go in.”
 
Stillwater’s Jackson Cates scored with a minute left to set up the frantic finish when Schilling, who finished with 22 saves, was at his best.

First report

Logan Lindstrand scored the in the first period, Griffin Ness added a breakaway goal with 1:35 left and goaltender Alex Schilling made 21 saves as No. 3-seeded Wayzata held on to defeat No. 2-seeded Stillwater 2-1 on Friday in the Class 2A quarterfinals at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
 
The victory gives the Trojans (21-8-1) their first state championship berth in program history.
 
Ness, a sophomore forward, broke free at center ice and beat Stillwater goaltender Josh Benson with a shot over his glove hand to put the Trojans ahead 2-0. The goal was Ness’ fourth of the season.
 
Jackson Cates scored with 1 minute left to pull the Ponies to within 2-1 and energize the massive crowd. His brother, Noah had another close-range shot stopped by Schilling just before the final horn sounded and the net was pushed off its moorings in the wild scramble.
 
Lindstrand, a junior defenseman, scored 6:55 into the first period when his shot from the right point sailed through a traffic jam of players and past Stillwater (27-2-1) senior goaltender Josh Benson. The goal was Lindstrand’s fourth of the season.
 
Stillwater’s Simon Sagissor streaked in alone on Schilling on a partial breakaway with 3 minutes left in the third, but couldn’t beat the Trojans’ senior goaltender. Stillwater’s best chance in the early going of the third came on a rebound try by Jackson Cates from just outside the crease. The Ponies’ Gavin Holland rocketed a shot off the pipe just seconds later. The Ponies continued to ratchet up the pressure throughout the third, repeatedly testing Schilling. 
 
Wayzata controlled play throughout the first, outshooting Stillwater 11-4.
 
Wayzata’s Mark Senden, a senior forward who has committed to the University of North Dakota, was stopped on a breakaway 7 minutes into the second period. Benson flashed his right leg in time to stuff Senden’s low shot. Benson’s effort immediately was replayed and honored as the Save of the Game on the Xcel’s massive scoreboard screens. Benson made another good save on a rushing Grant Anderson late in the second.
 
The Ponies played without junior forward Luke Manning, their third-leading scorer who was scratched because of a concussion he suffered in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Junior forward T.J. Sagissor, questionable because of a foot injury he suffered Thursday, played a regular shift.

Postgame Press Conference Video & Highlights