Moorhead Outlasts Lakeville South in State Quarterfinal

Spuds advance to semifinals with 4-1 victory over Cougars

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Moorhead Spuds, the No. 2 seed in the Class AA field, defeated the No. 7 Lakeville South Cougars 4-1 in the Minnesota State High School League's Boys Hockey State Tournament quarterfinal. Junior forward Max Cullen scored two goals, and senior forward Tyden Bergeson added a goal and an assist to power Moorhead's offense. The Spuds' defense also played a key role, killing off a 5-on-3 Cougars advantage in the third period.

Why it matters

Moorhead is seeking its second straight state championship after winning its first title a year ago. The Spuds' victory over Lakeville South, the Section 1AA champion, keeps their title defense alive and sets them up for a semifinal matchup.

The details

Moorhead finished the game with 33 shots on goal, while Lakeville South mustered 24. The Spuds' two late third-period goals from sophomore forward Joey Cullen and Bergeson, a Mr. Hockey Award finalist, sealed the victory. Lakeville South's lone goal came from senior forward Tristan Lawrence, who cut the deficit to 3-1 late in the game.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 5 at Grand Casino Arena.

The players

Max Cullen

A junior forward for the Moorhead Spuds who scored two goals in the game.

Tyden Bergeson

A senior forward for the Moorhead Spuds who scored a goal and added an assist in the game. He is also a Mr. Hockey Award finalist.

Joey Cullen

A sophomore forward for the Moorhead Spuds who scored a goal in the third period to give the Spuds a 3-1 lead.

Keaton LeGrande

The goalie for the Lakeville South Cougars.

Tristan Lawrence

A senior forward for the Lakeville South Cougars who scored the team's lone goal in the game.

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What’s next

Moorhead will advance to the semifinals of the Minnesota State High School League's Boys Hockey State Tournament, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Edina and Andover.

The takeaway

Moorhead's dominant performance, led by the scoring of Max Cullen and Tyden Bergeson, along with their stifling defense, shows they are a force to be reckoned with as they seek to defend their state championship title.