Eden Prairie’s Jack Keeley typically leaves the offense to others. When given the chance to shoot, Keeley aims to create a rebound for a teammate to finish.

Charging alone at the Benilde-St. Maraget’s net in the second overtime of Wednesday’s Class 2A, Section title game, Keeley let rip without a plan.

Score one for spontaneity. Keeley’s shorthanded goal clinched a 3-2 victory and state tournament berth for the Eagles.

“I just threw it at the net,” Keeley said. “It was really amazing.”

The goal, just Keeley’s fifth this season, was unexpected for reasons beyond the shooter. Benilde-St. Margaret’s went on the power play seeking to end the game.

“That was the opening,” Red Knights coach Ken Pauly said. “Unfortunately I think our kids got tentative on the power play because they realized, ‘This is it.’ We over-handled the puck and it cost us.”

Michael Parrish blocked a Red Knights’ shot and the puck ended up with Keeley. As Keeley headed for open ice, defenseman Luc Snuggerud watched from the Eagles’ bench thinking he knew what to expect.

“He always shoots it lower blocker side in practice,” Snuggerud said. “So when we saw it go high glove side we couldn’t believe it. And when it went in, we went nuts.”

The feeling of jubilation was a welcome change for Snuggerud, who broke his left hand blocking a second period shot. He went to the bench and did not return until leading the No. 2 seed Eagles (17-8-3) onto the ice for the third period. With no power on his shot, Snuggerud tried to play solid defense.

“They told me it was broken but said I couldn’t hurt it any worse,” Snuggerud said. “You just have to go out there and battle, especially in the playoffs. Seeing the looks on the guys’ faces right now is priceless.”

While Snuggerud’s return provided an emotional lift, it was Colton Schmidt’s tying goal that made players believe they could win.

No.4 seed Benilde-St. Margaret’s (15-9-3), playing in its third consecutive Section 6 championship game, built a 2-1 lead on Will Duda’s goal with less than three minutes to play in the second period.

Steven Spinner orchestrated Eden Prairie’s tying goal by streaking into the zone, drawing defenders and leaving a pass for Schmidt to bury at 2:49 of the third period. Schmidt’s power-play goal tied the game 2-2 and gave Eden Prairie the edge throughout a competitive third period.

“That lifted our spirits up the whole rest of the game,” said Spinner, who scored Eden Prairie’s first goal of the game.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s Spencer Naas evened the score 1-1 early the second period. His goal, scored at 2:57, reflected a new-found energy the Red Knights carried throughout the period.

“We felt the first two periods were pretty much ours,” Pauly said. “But they’ve got a lot of seniors on that team and they came back and put us on our heels.”