Allowing a Blaine goal just 20 seconds into the game wasn’t part of Eden Prairie’s strategy. Neither was panicking.

The Eagles displayed a two-time defending state champion’s poise, taking control of the game in a 14-1 rout.

Senior attackman Sean Patterson said an early deficit “definitely wasn’t expected but we didn’t want to get away from our game because knew we would pull away in the end.”

No 2 seed Eden Prairie (14-3) got a combined eight goals from Patterson and midfielder JD Spielman against Blaine (13-4).

“We never got selfish or tried to force things,” Patterson said. “That’s been our story all year, play our game and pull away through four quarters.”