Zach Gardiner's goal with about one minute remaining made for a frantic finish but it wasn't enough for Maple Grove to overcome another defensively dominant performance by Minnetonka, as the defending state champion Skippers held on to win the Section 6 semifinal 7-6 on Wednesday, June 2, at Maple Grove High School.

"We got the ball back with about 30 seconds left, but we were never able to get a shot off," Maple Grove coach Gig Willson said. "They really packed it in well."

No. 8-ranked Minnetonka (12-3), which allowed just 61 goals in 13 regular season games, has yielded just 10 in two playoff wins. The Skippers haven't allowed more than seven goals in nine straight games dating back to an 8-4 loss to Blake on April 27.

Willson said Maple Grove held an early two-goal lead and that the score was tied at 5 at halftime.

Maple Grove finished at 12-3 with the loss, ending the most successful season in the program's history. The Crimson were seeded second in the section; Minnetonka was the No. 3 seed.