At first Eden Prairie gave Stillwater no chance. Then the Ponies rallied and the two girls’ lacrosse teams played another state tournament semifinal classic. Just like last year.

Even the score, 15-14, and the winner, Eden Prairie, were the same Thursday in the game at Minnetonka High School.

“They’re very ferocious; they’re very physical,” Eagles coach Beth Patterson said of Stillwater.

Eden Prairie (17-1) jumped out to a 4-0 lead, with Naomi Rogge starting the barrage. She finished with six goals and two assists in the game.

“We were connecting just the simple passes, making the right moves and cuts,” Rogge said.

Then the Ponies (16-2) quickly fought back. Carly Fedorowski’s second goal gave the Ponies a 6-5 lead. Stillwater’s Gina Jablonski ended the run with a goal to give her team a 9-7 lead to end the half. 

Patterson said she felt the Eagles “got into a funk and never really got our attack rolling.”

Eden Prairie, which won last year’s battle in overtime, didn’t regain the lead until Sarah Woodring’s goal put the Eagles back ahead 13-12 with 12:57 left in the game. Rogge added two goals down the stretch.

“They won a few more center draws at the end of the game, and I think that was the difference,” Ponies coach Rick Reidt said.

Eden Prairie and Stillwater played another classic girls' lacrosse semifinal, only this one didn't have to go to overtime.

The game Thursday between the burgeoning rivals ended with Eden Prairie winning again 15-14, the same score as last year's overtime thriller.

Eden Prairie jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the opening minutes at Minnetonka High School, but the Ponies rallied quickly and took the lead for most of the half.

Sara Woodring put the Eagles back in the lead at 12:57 in the second half, 13-12.

The defending champions advance to play Blake in the championship game on Saturday in Chanhassen.

Check back later for more on the game.