In the third period of a scoreless game with trip to state on the line, Rosemount’s top goal scorer did her thing. Sophie Stramel scored 3:17 into the frame and Rosemount beat Eastview 1-0 in Wednesday’s Section 3AA girls’ hockey final. Gianna Marchese made 27 saves for her fourth shutout of the season, in what Stramel called a true team win.

“Everyone from our forwards to the defense. Unbelievable game by Gianna Marchese. Unbelievable,” she said.

It’s Rosemount’s third straight trip to downtown St. Paul. They finished sixth in 2023 and lost their first two games last year. The Class AA tournament begins next Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center. Seedings and the schedule are to be announced Saturday. The feeling in the Irish locker room before Wednesday’s third period was not to worry.

“We knew were doing everything right, we just had to finish,” said Aubrey Hansen.

Her pass found Stramel entering the Eastview blue line. Stramel, a Minnesota State, Mankato commit, beat a couple defenders, cut to the right and unleashed a low wrist shot to the far corner of the net for her team-high 28th goal of the season.

“We do expect a lot from here, but she expects a lot from herself, and she continues to show that for us in big games,” said co-coach Jennifer Williams. “… We’re glad she’s on or team and not against us.”

“Same goal as our first year going to state in double overtime so it was pretty special for her to do that again,” Hansen said.

Did Hansen assist on that one too?

“I think I did, actually” she said with a laugh. “It was a long time ago.”

The top-seeded Irish (21-7-0) were expected to play for a section title, but Eastview?

Finishing eighth in the nine-team South Suburban Conference won by Rosemount, the Lightning were the section’s sixth seed but became a tough out. The youthful squad — Eastview had three seniors and five girls who played U12 last year — took down No. 3 Apple Valley in the quarterfinals and No. 2 Cretin-Derham Hall in a semifinal that was settled in the second overtime.

“Kids got a lot to be proud of,” said coach Herb Harvey.

Kudos also came from Stramel: “The whole season they were a hard team to play against.”

A close game was expected between these District 196 rivals separated by four miles. Rosemount beat Eastview 3-2 two weeks ago and 2-0 Dec. 19. For two scoreless periods, it was a lot of up-and-down hockey with plenty of rubber heading to the net — shots were 30-20 Rosemount — but neither goalie succumbed to pressure. Beth Bigalke finished with 40 saves for the Lightning.