New Ulm defeated Luverne 2-1 last year on Dec. 9 and then 3-1 on Jan. 26 but failed to secure the third win to advance to the state tournament. 

Blake Soukup and Bryer Lang each recorded a goal for the Eagles. Ian Brudelie, Dawson Kraus, Wesley Grob and Austin Uecker all had an assist.

Bryer Hoffmann saved 19 of 23 shots on goal for the Eagles.

The first goal of the game was scored by Luverne’s Brady Bork on even strength at 1:59, hitting the top-right corner of the net. New Ulm responded with a goal by Soukup at 13:48 on even strength, sneaking the puck into the upper-left corner on a give-and-go play with Brudelie, ending the first period tied up at 1 apiece.

Staff photos by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Austin Uecker battles for the puck in a faceoff in the Section 3A boys hockey championship game against Luverne Wednesday night at Gustavus Adolphus College.

The second period saw Blaike Bork score Luverne’s second goal on a power play at 9:45. A penalty by Soukup at the buzzer allowed Luverne to start the third period with another power play and a 2-1 lead.

Luverne capitalized on this power-play advantage with another goal by Brady Bork at 1:10. Lang then scored New Ulm’s second goal at 3:32, giving life to the Eagles. Luverne scored once more in the third, with Elliot Domangala hitting a shot at 9:29 on even strength to put the Cardinals up 4-2.

New Ulm had a power play in the final minutes of the game, and despite giving an empty net to create even more of an advantage, they were unable to put a shot on goal, ending the game without another score.

New Ulm finished the season with a 23-4-1 record.