Minneapolis Washburn goalkeeper Taylor Cottew has spent countless hours in goal, marveling at her talented teammates.

So when the Millers needed her most on Wednesday, the sophomore with the quick smile was happy oblige.

Cottew stopped two point-blank shots, keeping the game scoreless until No. 1-ranked Washburn got its vaunted offense on track as the Millers ousted feisty Hill-Murray 3-0 in the Class 1A semifinals.

“I’ve seen them do so many amazing things,” said Cottew, who finished with six saves in the game. “I knew that if I let one in, we might lose hope. I had to keep their energy up until we got going on offense.”

Few teams have had as dominant a season as the Millers. They improved to 21-0 with the victory and haven’t allowed a goal since August, a span of 17 consecutive shutouts.

But Hill-Murray controlled much of the game, cutting off speedy Washburn’s running lanes. 

Washburn, which has scored an even 100 goals, finally broke into the scoring column when Ella Stout turned a short pass from Brooke Innes into a goal in the 66th minute.

“I’ll admit I was a little worried for awhile,” said Stout, a senior forward. “But I had faith in my teammates that we would come through.”

The goal seemed to propel Washburn, which added goals by Lydia Ruppert and Morgan Cottew – Taylor’s older sister – in the final seven minutes.

“We just needed that one goal and then we would have the confidence,” said assistant coach Reuben Ndely.

Washburn plays No. 2-seeded Orono, a team it defeated 1-0 on Sept. 15, for the Class 1A state championship. It will be just the second time since the creation of a two-class tournament that public schools have met for the 1A title. Rogers defeated Mahtomedi 3-1 in 2010.

It took awhile, but Minneapolis Washburn found its vaunted offense, getting three goals in the final 15 minutes to pull away from Hill-Murray in a 3-0 Class 1A semifinal victory Wednesday.

Elizabeth Stout scored first in the 66th minute, followed by goals from Lydia Ruppert and Morgan Cottew. 

Washburn has not given up a goal in more than two months.

The No. 1-ranked Millers will play Orono in the Class 1A championship game Thursday. Washburn defeated Orono 1-0 on Sept. 15.

Check back later for more on the game.