Eden Prairie senior captain Leah Gschwendtner (4) scores her second goal late in regulation to tie Tuesday’s Class 2AAA, Section 2 quarterfinal against Edina at 2-2. The Eagles forced overtime before falling 4-3 in a shootout at Kuhlman Stadium. Photo by Rick Olson
Eden Prairie’s season came to a dramatic close Tuesday night, as the sixth-seeded Eagles fell to No. 3 Edina in a shootout, 4-3, after the teams played to a 2-2 draw through regulation and two overtime periods in the Class 2AAA, Section 2 girls soccer quarterfinals at Kuhlman Stadium in Edina.
Edina opened the scoring 8:51 into the first half and held a 1-0 lead at halftime. Eden Prairie senior captain and attacker Leah Gschwendtner pulled the Eagles even early in the second half, scoring her first of two goals on the night.
The Hornets regained the lead late in regulation, but Gschwendtner responded less than three minutes later to tie the game 2-2 with 5:29 remaining, sending the matchup into overtime.
Her equalizer – struck after Edina had taken control and outshot Eden Prairie – gave the Eagles renewed hope against their rival’s strong defense and sparked an emotional finish.
After two scoreless extra sessions, the game was decided by penalty kicks. Both goalkeepers made key saves, including several by Eagles senior goalie Gwen Glasrud, but Edina converted four shootout attempts to Eden Prairie’s three to advance.
Edina (9-2-5) moves on to face No. 2 Chanhassen, which defeated Waconia 5-0 on Tuesday, in Thursday’s Section 2AAA semifinals. Eden Prairie ends its season with a 4-10-3 record.
From left, Eden Prairie junior captain Peyton Ishaug (6), senior captain Leah Gschwendtner and sophomore Julia Ziesel (18) celebrate Gschwendtner’s late second-half goal that tied Tuesday’s Class 2AAA, Section 2 quarterfinal against Edina at 2-2 at Kuhlman Stadium. The Eagles later fell 4-3 in a shootout. Photo by Rick Olson