Edina Girls Hockey Wins 6-4 in State Tournament Opener

Senior captain Lorelai Nelson scores a pure hat trick to lead Edina to victory over Bemidji

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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In the opening round of the Minnesota State Class AA Girls Hockey Tournament, the Edina Hornets defeated the Bemidji Lumberjacks 6-4. Edina senior captain Lorelai Nelson scored a pure hat trick in the first two periods to spark the Hornets' offense. Other goal scorers for Edina included Cate McCoy, Charlotte Theirl, and Audrey Davis. Edina's defense also made key plays to hold off Bemidji's strong power play. With the win, Edina advances to the state semifinals to face longtime rival Hill-Murray, who they have met in the state championship game in recent years.

Why it matters

The Edina-Hill-Murray matchup in the state semifinals continues a storied rivalry between two of Minnesota's top girls hockey programs. Edina is looking to avenge last year's overtime loss to Hill-Murray in the state title game, while Hill-Murray aims to repeat as champions. The outcome of this semifinal will set the stage for the state championship game.

The details

Edina senior captain Lorelai Nelson scored a pure hat trick in the first two periods to give the Hornets an early lead. Her second and third goals came on rebounds of shots by her teammates. Cate McCoy and Charlotte Theirl also scored for Edina, while Audrey Davis had the other Hornets goal. Edina's defense, led by captains Brenna Prellwitz and Taylor Gardner, made key plays to hold off Bemidji's strong power play.

  • The game was played on February 19, 2026 at the Grand Casino Arena in downtown St. Paul.
  • Edina defeated Benilde-St. Margaret's 1-0 in the Section 6AA finals six days earlier to advance to the state tournament.

The players

Lorelai Nelson

Edina senior captain who scored a pure hat trick in the first two periods to lead the Hornets to victory.

Sami Cowger

Edina head coach who praised Nelson's performance as a 'competitor' on the big stage.

Brenna Prellwitz

One of Edina's defensive captains who emphasized the importance of continuing to score goals in a high-scoring game.

Taylor Gardner

Edina's other defensive captain who noted the team's strong penalty kill against Bemidji's powerful power play.

Hill-Murray

Edina's semifinal opponent, a longtime rival that the Hornets have faced in recent state championship games.

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What they’re saying

“Lorelai is such a competitor. A hat trick on the big stage is special. She score her second and third goals going to the net.”

— Sami Cowger, Edina head coach (hometownsource.com)

“In a game like this, you have to keep scoring.”

— Brenna Prellwitz, Edina defensive captain (hometownsource.com)

“Bemidji is a team that moves the puck super well on the power play. But I thought our penalty kill was pretty good.”

— Taylor Gardner, Edina defensive captain (hometownsource.com)

What’s next

Edina will face Hill-Murray in the state semifinals on Friday, February 20 at 6 p.m. at the Grand Casino Arena. This continues a long-standing rivalry between the two programs, who have met in the state championship game in recent years.

The takeaway

Edina's victory over Bemidji in the state tournament opener showcased the Hornets' offensive firepower, led by senior captain Lorelai Nelson's hat trick performance. However, Edina's defense also played a key role in holding off Bemidji's strong power play, demonstrating the team's well-rounded abilities as they advance to the state semifinals against longtime rival Hill-Murray.