For the first 10 minutes of Friday’s game against Blake, Eden Prairie wasn’t Eden Prairie. 

The Eagles had dominated every game against Minnesota opponents this season, outscoring the competition 270-96.

But after surrendering five unanswered goals to Blake, the Eagles found themselves trailing 7-3 with 9:55 to play in the first half. 

“I think we came out a little scared, took a lot of pressure, and didn’t really play our game” said Eden Prairie co-head coach Judy Baxter.

Baxter called a timeout after the Bears took that 7-3 lead, needing to regroup her team that hasn’t lost a game against an in-state opponent in almost two seasons. 

“We needed to settle down, take a deep breath, spread out and run some plays,” Baxter said. 

That timeout worked wonders for the defending state champion Eagles, who stormed back to tie the game before halftime en route to a thrilling 16-14 win over the Bears. 

“On attack we were kind of forcing it, and I don’t think we were all connecting,” junior forward Sammie Morton said. “We were just kind of sloppy.”

Morton scored a game-high five goals, running her season total to a team-high 51. 

Two of those goals were the result of skilled distribution from senior forward Sara Woodring, who usually commands the Eden Prairie offense from behind the opponent’s net. 

“I like to take it slow out there, and make sure everyone’s being patient,” Woodring said. 

Woodring is a two-time Star Tribune All-Metro selection, and has amassed a staggering 191 goals and 323 points since suiting up for the Eden Prairie varsity team in eighth grade. 

“She’s a senior, she’s been on the team for five years, and she brings a calm presence to the team,” Baxter said of Woodring. 

Despite the gaudy numbers, Woodring is quick to deflect praise to her teammates. 

“Our whole team does a really good job at moving, passing and cutting for the ball,” Woodring said, adding that she trusts her entire team to catch her lethally accurate passes. 

“Every other girl makes it so much easier for me, because they’re all so good.”

Woodring also trusts that playing a strong opponent like Blake, ranked No. 2 in the latest coaches’ poll behind the top-ranked Eagles, is key to preparing for the postseason and a run at defending their title. 

“It’s a great experience, because we know a lot of the girls (from Blake),” Woodring said. “It’s a great competition each year.”

Junior forward Sammie Morton scored a game-high five goals to lead Eden Prairie to a 16-14 win over Blake in the season finale for both teams on Friday night at The Blake School. 

Naomi Rogge and Brooke Lewis each notched three goals for the Eagles (12-1), with Kacie Riggs and Kelly Wolfe scoring two goals apiece. 

Senior forward Sara Woodring recorded a goal and added two assists for Eden Prairie, ranked No. 1 in the latest coaches’ poll. 

Sophomore attacker Shannon Ellis and senior midfielder Carly Bullock each posted four goals, and Emma Burke added three for the No. 2 Bears.

Annie Lyman, Lucy Nelson and Sara McClanahan each scored once for Blake (11-2).  

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