Roseville Strong in 3-1 Win Over Hopkins

ST. PAUL, Minn—The Roseville Raiders are the best team in Class AA. They flexed their muscle on Friday night against the Hopkins Royals and rolled to the state championship game with a 3-1 win.

The score was closer than the actual game as the Raider defense stymied the Royals allowing only 11 shots on goal. Kallie Billadeau did her best to keep her squad close making 31 saves in the loss.

The Royals jumped out early when Abbey Seashore scored on Erika Allen when she went five hole for the 1-0 lead at 3:32. The Raiders answered two minutes later when Bethany Brausen tallied on the power play when she followed her own shot from inside the left faceoff dot and rammed the rebound home to tie the game at one.

The Raiders tallied again on the power play in the second period when Chelsea Witwicke beat Billadeau for the 2-1 advantage. The defense went to work from there. The Raiders allowed only two shots on goal the entire second period and cut off passing lanes and opportunities.

Roseville put the exclamation point on the tilt in the third when Nicki Barnett scored at 6:26 giving the Raiders the 3-1 lead and a trip to the state championship game tomorrow night.

“Billeadeau was incredible, but we expected that,” said Roseville coach Vic Brodt. “We weren’t going to get four, five or six goals today, I thought if we could get to three it would be enough.”

Indeed that number proved to be exactly the formula for success.

“We felt very confident throughout the whole game,” said Brausen. “We got a ton of shots, maybe not as many goals as we wanted, but we got one for every 12 shots which is what you are hoping for.”

Roseville is searching for their third title, but first of the decade. They won the championship back in 1996 and 1999.

“It is indescribable,” said Brausen about playing in the championship game. “I’m so excited, it is a dream come true.”